The first school in Aberdeen City Council's £120m 3Rs project has opened its doors to pupils.

Heathryburn Headteacher Alison Muir with pupils from each of the class primaries. Children from the old Middlefield and Marchburn Schools have moved into their new £7m Heathryburn School on Davidson Drive - opening a new chapter in their own education and marking a landmark occasion in the history of education in the Granite City.

The innovative Reorganise, Renovate and Rebuild public/private partnership scheme is delivering seven new primaries, two new secondary schools and one refurbished primary school. Heathryburn in Northfield is the first to open - on time and on budget.

The regeneration of the school estate is being carried out by the city council in partnership with NYOP Education (Aberdeen) Ltd, which is designing, building and financing the buildings under a 30-year deal.

The NYOP consortium is made up of property company Nysir, Yorkshire-based facilities management company Operon, and contractor Pihl UK Ltd.

-- Advertisement --

Significant community and sports facilities are a key park of each school-build project. All are being built to exacting levels of sustainability in their design, construction and operation. Outdoor spaces are designed to provide safe, stimulating places for learning, play, socialising.

P1-2 Class with Teacher Rachel Grant. Every school will also be provided with a fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals to support the city council's healthy-eating Hungry for Success programme.

All boast Scandinavian standards of insulation, an innovative lighting management system linked to ambient levels of daylight, under-floor heating, natural ventilation, the ability to conserve and use rainwater and sustainable urban drainage systems.

3Rs Project Board Chairman Councillor Kevin Stewart said: "The opening of Heathryburn School marks an exciting new era in education in Aberdeen. All the partners involved in this groundbreaking project have committed themselves to providing buildings of the very highest quality to give our youngsters the best possible learning environments.

"The new schools are far superior the old 1960s and 1970s buildings they are replacing and show that this council is planning for the future and determined to deliver the school buildings which our youngsters and school staff deserve."

Lead councillor for education Councillor Kirsty West added: "I am absolutely thrilled to see the first of our new generation of primary schools throwing open its doors to the children."

The acting head teacher Alison Muir believes the school surpasses all expectations of Aberdeen City Council's vision to provide purpose-built schools conducive to teaching and learning in the 21st century.

(GK/JM)