Craigowl Primary School, built under Dundee City Council's £90m Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme, was officially opened by Depute Lord Provost Ian Borthwick yesterday.

Pupils celebrated with a school song and a school dance, along with a Christmas medley, to mark the historic occasion.

Craigowl Primary was formed through the merger of Brackens and Macalpine primaries.

The Depute Lord Provost said: "It is a great honour to be carrying out this role on what is a special day for everyone connected with Craigowl Primary.

"I am very pleased to see the pride that pupils and staff feel for their school as they write the first chapter in the history of the new primary."

Craigowl Primary is the fourth school to have been officially opened under Dundee City Council's £90m PPP programme.

Education convener Cllr Laurie Bidwell said: "Dundee City Council is committed to improving education and the PPP programme is part of our overall strategy to help even more pupils succeed at school. We are looking to meet the challenges of education in the 21st century with these new buildings"

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Craigowl Primary is one of four new schools under the PPP scheme that are being officially opened before Christmas. Claypotts Castle, Downfield and St Andrew's primaries have already enjoyed their celebrations.

Craigowl includes a nursery and games hall in the building. Entrance artwork, which pupils helped create, marks new beginnings for the school community.

A new school song and a dance have been created for the official opening of Craigowl Primary.

In total, six primary and two secondary schools are being delivered for Dundee City Council under the £90 million PPP project by the Discovery Education consortium.

The consortium includes Robertson Capital Projects, Robertson Tayside, Robertson Central, Sir Robert McAlpine and Robertson Facilities Management.

Robertson Executive Chairman, Bill Robertson, said: "We are delighted to be part of Dundee Council's celebrations to officially open this new modern educational facility.

"From the design-stage through to construction, we have remained focused on creating purpose-built premises which contribute positively to the learning outcomes of local children.

"We continue to strengthen our relationship with Dundee City Council throughout the second phase of the project which will deliver a further two primary and two secondary schools as well as working in partnership with the council over the next 30 years via the provision of facilities services."

(GK/JM)