Pupils entered the new St Paul's RC Academy for the first time on Friday as the latest school constructed under Dundee City Council's £90m PPP programme opened its doors for business.

Dundee City Council administration leader Cllr Kevin Keenan, education convener Cllr Laurie Bidwell, depute education convener Cllr Tom Ferguson and education committee Roman Catholic church representative Monsignor Ken McCaffrey welcomed the first S6 pupils to the school.

To allow for pupils to get used to their new surroundings, there is a phased entry to St Paul's Academy between Friday and Tuesday (Jan 13), when all year groups will be in the building.

Cllr Bidwell said: "This is yet another historic occasion for education in Dundee and I am delighted to see this new school opening for pupils. It is one of the largest new public facilities in the city to be completed for some time and it is the first new build secondary on a new site in Dundee for over thirty years.

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"Pupils and staff have put in a tremendous effort to forge the new identity for St Paul's and there have been a number of events to bring the pupils together before they enter the new building.

"I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the creation of St Paul's and I am sure that everyone is dedicated to the task of ensuring that this new school builds its own traditions for the future."

The secondary school, on Gillburn Road, replaces Lawside Academy and St Saviour's High School. St Paul's RC Academy has been operating in name from the separate sites of the former schools since August.

The school's facilities include a swimming pool, games hall and gyms.

The last new secondary in Dundee to open on a new site was the former Whitfield High School in 1976.

Dundee City Council's £90m PPP programme will deliver a total of six new primary schools and two new secondaries.

The schools are being delivered by the Discovery Education consortium which includes Robertson Capital Projects, Robertson Tayside, Robertson Central, Sir Robert McAlpine and Robertson Facilities Management.

Robertson executive chairman, Bill Robertson, said: "It is extremely pleasing that Robertson can be in attendance today to welcome the pupils into 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."

(GK/JM)