New primary school in Chapelton could open to pupils in 2026

The first pupils could attend a new primary school in Chapelton Of Elsick in four years as plans continue to progress.

While still in the very early stages, changes are being made to the Aberdeenshire Council agreement with the developer to allow the school to open in 2026.

Previously, this would only be possible on completion of the 489th house being built.

Once these changes have been made, a formal consultation process will take place with public engagement scheduled for next year.

Become ‘an integral part of the community’

Pupils in Chapelton are currently zoned to Newtonhill Primary School.

It is hoped the £10 million planned development will help the school become a core part of the community.

Aberdeenshire Council’s education and children’s services committee vice-chairwoman Anne Simpson, said: “We want to ensure that every child has access to the best educational facilities and this new school at Chapelton will ensure that all children in the area have a local school as the town grows.

“We very much look forward to hearing more and we expect to have further reports next year with public engagement beginning in early spring.”

The planned development, being carried out by Elsick Development Company, will be carried out in two phases.

A building able to hold around 215 pupils will be built in the first stage but with facilities – such as a kitchen and dining hall – suitable for 434 pupils.

This will ensure any future expansion in a second phase would be fairly straightforward and only more classrooms would need to be added.

The school is also set to have a range of facilities including sports pitches which will be made available for the community to use.

The Duke of Fife, David Carnegie, who is a director of Elsick Development Company, said the changes were “another major step forward in the progress of the town”.

He said: “We have always believed that education provision should be at the heart of what we are doing and have sought to take an active role in its formulation.

“We are extremely pleased and excited that the first primary school is soon to become a reality as an integral part of the community.”

Funded in the longer term by the development company, the building and site facilities will be funded by initial payments from Aberdeenshire Council.