St Paul's RC Academy in Dundee was officially opened and solemnly blessed by the Right Reverend Vincent Logan, Bishop of Dunkeld, last Tuesday.

The secondary has been constructed under Dundee City Council's £90 million PPP programme and replaces the former Lawside Academy and St Saviour's High School.

Pupils have been attending lessons at the new building since January this year, but St Paul's came into existence in August 2008 across the Lawside and St Saviour's sites.

The new building contains state-of-the-art facilities for learning and teaching as well as a chapel, swimming pool, gym and fitness spaces.

Already, the wider community is enjoying use of the sports facilities and pool as St Paul's opens its doors to the people of Dundee.

During the ceremony on Tuesday, guests enjoyed musical presentations from pupils and celebrated the official opening by Bishop Logan.

He said: "Dundee City Council has shown its commitment to its young people, by providing a first-class education facility, offering all associated with it the chance to achieve their potential.

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"This impressive new school is named after St Paul, the great apostle and fearless preacher. My hope and prayer for this new school is that all who learn and work here will be inspired by their patron to witness to the Gospel values which are at the heart of Catholic education."

Dundee City Council education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce added: "This is a very special day for everyone connected with St Paul's RC Academy and I am delighted that the Bishop is carrying out the official opening and solemn blessing.

"The new secondary is building on years of tradition from both Lawside and St Saviour's and I am very pleased to see the way that pupils and staff have formed and taken forward the ethos and identity of St Paul's so quickly."

St Paul's RC Academy is one of eight schools in Dundee City Council's £90 million PPP programme.

Six primaries (Claypotts Castle, Craigowl, Downfield, Fintry, Rowantree and St Andrew's) have already been constructed, with the completion of Grove Academy 's replacement expected later this year.

The buildings are being delivered for Dundee City Council by the Discovery Education consortium.

It 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 with its client and project partners 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."

Mr Robertson added: "We have strengthened our relationship with Dundee City Council during the second phase of the project which has seen the delivery of St Paul's RC Academy and two primary schools, and will conclude with the completion of Grove Academy. Robertson will continue to work in partnership with the council over the next 30 years through the provision of facilities management services."

(GK/BMcc)