The official opening of the fourth school to be completed as part of Angus Council's £50m school building programme in Forfar and Carnoustie has taken place.

Whitehills Primary School in Forfar opened its doors to pupils as part of the programme to provide a total of six new primary schools and one secondary school across the two burghs.

With the completion of the first phase of the project, hundreds of children are reaping the benefits of the most significant investment in the school estate by Angus Council in 40 years.

Whitehill Primary School replaced Wellbrae and Chapelpark schools and is designed to provide accommodation for 444 primary pupils with up to 80 pre-school places. It also incorporates dedicated areas for a Gaelic pre-school class and a Gaelic class for pupils in P1 to P7.

The classrooms are all light and airy and equipped with brand new furniture and state of the art ICT provision through the latest computer technology, interactive whiteboards and plasma screens.

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The official opening ceremony by Councillor Colin Brown on Wednesday June 25 featured music and songs from the pupils. Guests then toured the school before the celebrations were rounded off with the presentation of a time capsule in the garden.

Welcoming the official opening, Angus Council's Convener of Education Peter Nield said: "Following a review of the whole school estate by Angus Council it became obvious that the schools in most need of improvement were in Carnoustie and Forfar, and I am delighted to see so many years of planning come to fruition as we see the official openings of the first phase of schools in this massive building programme.

"This programme is creating schools fit for the 21st Century of which the whole community can be proud and which will contribute positively to education of our young people, while providing fantastic up to date facilities for staff and will contribute positively to the whole community."

Head teacher Brenda Davie said: "All pupils, staff and parents are delighted with the new building which is equipped to a very high standard with interactive whiteboards in every classroom.

"We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Angus Council as we enter the second phase of the project which will deliver a further two primary schools in the area together with the major redevelopment of Carnoustie High School. Robertson will continue to support the physical learning environment through the provision of locally based facilities management services during the 30 year partnership with the Council."

(GK/JM)