A contractor has been appointed to deliver a state-of-the-art new school in North Uist.
Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath will combine three existing schools into one at a cost of £8.4million and will be built on the grounds of of the existing school at Bayhead.
The building will house a new primary school with nursery provision, sports facilities and car parking to serve the whole of North Uist and Berneray .
National construction and infrastructure consultants Pick Everard have been appointed by Western Isles Council to manage the project, which will house 100 pupils and is due to open in the summer of 2016.
As well as the school building, the site will include a multi-use games area and a 3G synthetic sports pitch.
An environmental garden with a polytunnel and planting area is also included in the plans.
Pick Everard director Euan Matheson, said: “This project will help to boost the local community by providing a far better learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities and large outdoor recreational areas improving outcomes for the area’s young people.
“We are pleased to be working in partnership with the council to provide modern facilities which will cater for the 21st century needs of the school and its users today and into the future.”
The project will see the demolition of the former secondary wing and head teacher’s house on the site.
Councillor Catriona Stewart, chairwoman of the council’s education and children’s services, said: “I am delighted that the project has reached this key milestone.
“The council aims to allocate resources in a way which will secure the best possible educational experience for pupils in the Western Isles.
“A key objective is the effective deployment of resources to secure continuous improvement in educational achievement and attainment.”
The first phase of the project is expected to be handed over in the summer of 2016 with a winter 2016 handover for the remaining external works.