The school, which will be built near the existing building, is expected to welcome its first pupils in late 2017.

Elgin south councillor Graham Leadbitter said it will be a “matter of weeks” until construction begins.

Mr Leadbitter said: “The planning consent for Elgin’s High School is another critical step on the way to seeing the new school built.

“We have now passed all the major planning hurdles and it is now a matter of weeks until we see a spade in the ground.”

The existing school, which was built in 1978, will be demolished when the new building is completed.

The new Elgin High will have a floodlit all-weather pitch and an athletics track.

The plans were approved by Moray Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.