The first turfs were cut yesterday at the new Inverness Royal Academy campus to mark the start of construction on the £34 million school.
Highland councillors were joined by council officials, and key representatives from Hub North Scotland, the project’s delivery partner, at the site which is west of the city’s Culduthel Road.
The development is part of the Highland Council’s modern schools building programme.
The new school will replace the existing Inverness Royal Academy, accommodating 1,420 pupils.
This takes account of the growth in the roll due to house building in the area and the projected increase in the uptake of Gaelic medium education.
Councillor Alasdair Christie, chairman of the education committee, said it was a “major milestone” for the school, which is in his Inverness Ness-side ward.
He added: “The new school build at Inverness Royal Academy is a huge investment and major boost to the local community and economy. It will also provide major support for the further development of Gaelic education and improved provision for pupils with additional support needs.”
The Scottish Government contributed £18million towards the construction of the school, which is expected to open in May 2016.
It will have 39 practical, 40 non-practical and five tutorial classrooms, with a further six classrooms for Gaelic education.
The community will also be able to use an additional games hall, plus a fitness suite, dance studio, gymnasium and two synthetic turf pitches. The pitches will be built on the site of the existing Inverness Royal Academy site.
Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of the developers Hub North Scotland, said: “A commitment to partnership working really is at the heart of the hub model and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with Highland Council, and those who will use the facility as the project’s momentum increases in the months ahead.
“We truly believe that, on completion, the first-class facility will bring major benefits to the wider Inverness community.”