A £7.3million Aberdeenshire school – in demand for more than a decade – will welcome pupils through its doors for the first time today.
Work on Drumoak Primary has finally been completed following several delays in the construction, with youngsters taking part in their first lessons at the facility this morning.
The new amenity replaces the jam-packed old school, on the village’s Sunnyside Drive, which has been serviced by a number of portable cabins since the 1990s.
The roll at the Victorian-era building has struggled recently to keep up with the development of the surrounding Deeside community.
However, the new energy-efficient school will have space for 145 pupils and 30 nursery children and comes complete with six classrooms, a large sports hall, a library and facilities for the whole community.
Speaking last night, Drumoak community councillor, Maxine Smith, said the school was a shining example of the views of residents being taken seriously during the planning process.
She added: “I was in the other day, it is very impressive, everyone is very excited about it. It has taken a long time, but it is worth the wait.
“It is a whole different space, it is a whole different thing. It is an endorsement of the growth of the village.
“It took Aberdeenshire Council a while to get the message, but they got it.”
Drumoak councillor, Graeme Clark, said: “It is opening now after all these years and it is a fantastic school.
“Many of the parents went to school there when it was portakabins and the pupils still had to put their coats on and run across to the school to go to the toilet.
“The bairns got a really good education despite the conditions. The whole village is really looking forward to the new school.
“It is a good news story for Drumoak because it has got a lot of sustainability built into the school.
“We are trying to promote green issues and sustainable energy. I am sure the children in Drum are really looking forward to it too.”
Last year, it was revealed the construction of the school, which was delayed twice, led to the project running roughly £400,000 over budget.