Work on Aberdeenshire’s newest school and community campus finished this week – paving the way for pupils to enter the classrooms after the holidays.
The £37million Alford Community Campus – which includes a new primary school and secondary school – will welcome its first influx of pupils in a matter of weeks.
The complex on the Greystone Road will replace the two village’s ageing schools and has capacity for 960 pupils, and includes a theatre, gym, sports hall, all-weather and grass playing fields and dance studio for the community to enjoy.
It also features a swimming pool, community library and work space for Aberdeenshire Council’s community learning and development team.
Construction has been ongoing since June 2013, and now it is finished there will be an open day on Saturday to give residents a chance to explore the new site.
The school is being delivered by the council through Hub North Scotland in partnership with Morrison Construction.
Councillor David Aitchison, chairman of the local authority’s infrastructure services committee said the campus was a “shining example” of the commitment to enhancing facilities in the area.
He added: “Huge investment has taken place in recent years and it is good to see projects reaching completion and bringing benefits to the community economically as well as the wider aspect of wellbeing.
“I encourage people to come and see for themselves all that there is on offer from sports facilities to community learning.”
Chief executive of Hub North Scotland, Angus Macfarlane, said he was confident the impressive new facility would be a “real focal point” for the village.
“The new campus will without a doubt be a real focal point for the village, serving generations of pupils and individuals for years to come,” he said.
“We’re proud to have been a part of this project and look forward to officially handing the facility over to Aberdeenshire Council in the coming weeks.”
The school is the latest in Aberdeenshire to be completed, with the £36million Ellon Community Campus opening in August. And last year, pupils moved into the £23million Mearns Community Campus in Laurencekirk after the summer break.
The open day in Alford will run from 10am-4pm.