The £17 million project will see improvements made at Applegrove in Forres, Millbank in Buckie, Seafield in Elgin and St Gerardine in Lossiemouth.

The work is designed to bring the condition of schools up to a standard that will be fit for the purpose of delivering education in the 21st Century.

Refurbishment will include new roof coverings, windows and doors, external insulation cladding and render, new toilets and completely modernised heating and electrical systems.

Work will begin during this year’s summer break and be completed by spring 2017.

The refurbishment has been funded by a £10m government grant, with the remainder being provided by the council.

Morrison Construction, which recently undertook the £1.2m refurbishment work on the Elgin Town Hall and the construction of Moray’s flood alleviation schemes, will join the Moray Council design team who are submitting planning applications for each of the schools, allowing for a programmed start on site this summer. The first application is due to be submitted this week.

The work will be carried out in phases, with pupils moving within their existing school or being decanted into new modular accommodation and the school remaining operational throughout the entire contract period.

Permanent modular accommodation is being provided at Millbank, Seafield and St Gerardine to be used primarily for decant accommodation for pupils during the contract and as permanent classroom accommodation following the completion of works. This will allow for additional capacity of the school buildings as required in these four schools.