An independent report into Aberdeen schools built through Public Private Partnership (PPP) has confirmed that they have not suffered the same construction defects as those found in schools in Edinburgh.

Engineers carried out inspections into ten schools across the city after 17 schools in Edinburgh built under the same agreement were forced to close amid safety fears in April this year.

The report confirmed the 3Rs schools in Aberdeen were not built using a brick skin construction as is the case in Edinburgh and, as a result, the faults cannot occur in Aberdeen schools.

Between 2008 and 2010, Bucksburn and Cults academies and eight primary schools were built under the 3Rs project.

Councillor Angela Taylor, Aberdeen City Council’s education and children’s services convener, said: “During the construction the city council employed an independent inspector who was used to inspect the work of contractors whilst the schools were being built.

“They challenged the contractor’s performance at all times during the construction process which has held us in good stead today.

“Council officers have now reviewed the findings submitted by the contractors and agreed that these provide the reassurance that the PPP schools in Aberdeen were and continue to be safe for use.”

NHS Grampian has also called for reassurances that its health centres have not been affected by similar issues.

None of the Aberdeen schools were built by Miller Construction – the developer at the heart of the Edinburgh crisis – but health centres in Aberdeen and Forres were.