The first school taking shape on Petersburn Road will provide a new home for Petersburn and Dunrobin primary schools, who will merge when the new school opens. Just over a mile away, on South Biggar Road, a second site will allow Tollbrae and St Edward’s primary schools to co-locate on a state-of-the-art joint campus.

The contracts, which have a combined value of £35 million, were awarded to Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure by North Lanarkshire Council through its Schools and Centres 21 framework.

To mark the milestones, children, teachers and local councillors, including the Provost Jean Jones, joined members of the project teams to enjoy a host of festivities.

Events included the switching on of the Christmas tree lights at Dunrobin followed by a trip to the St Edwards and Tollbrae site to see a time capsule being lowered into the ground. The attendees were also treated to members of each school choir joining together to sing Christmas carols, and pupils were given a glimpse of what their finished schools would like through, using VR headsets.

The Dunrobin and Petersburn primary school will comprise of a £17.3m two-storey curved building which is being delivered as a tandem build on field space beside the existing Dunrobin Primary. The new facility will have a 484 capacity and include a nursery and learning support unit.

Following the building’s completion, a second phase of the project will see the existing school demolished to expand the new facility’s playground and parking facilities. A new synthetic sports pitch will also be installed.

Similarly, St Edward’s and Tollbrae – currently located in adjacent buildings on South Biggar Road – will relocate into a new £17.9m school that is being built on the existing playing fields.

This joint campus building will have two classroom wings connected by a shared gym, along with a dining hall and multi-purpose rooms to accommodate the combined 342 and 217 pupil intakes. The building will house 20 classrooms set over two floors, along with two nurseries, providing 85 nursery places.

The old schools will then be demolished, with car parking to be constructed where Tollbrae currently stands and a floodlit synthetic pitch laid on the existing St Edward’s site.

Both facilities are due to be completed and ready for use by spring 2019. 

Stuart Parker, managing director of Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure in Scotland, said: “Local authorities are looking to provide the very best learning experience for pupils – and to do so with efficient use of the public purse and estate.

“The co-location of multiple schools, each with their own identity, isn’t without its challenges. Successful implementation requires a measured approach and close collaboration between customer and contractor teams. We are well versed in handling the sensitivities and logistics that go hand-in-hand with these kind of projects, having delivered several across Scotland.

“We’re incredibly pleased to be working with North Lanarkshire Council on building what we’re sure will be a lasting legacy for education in the area. As someone who lives in the local community I am particularly proud to be involved in these projects, and it’s great to see the positive impact they’re having first hand.”

Provost Jean Jones said: “It’s an exciting time of year for everyone but even more so for pupils and staff at all the schools involved.

“The events celebrate a key stage in the construction of the new schools and the pupils’ Christmas songs really made it a very special occasion.

“The time capsule is packed with items and treasures we value and these will be of huge interest to people who uncover it in perhaps hundreds of years’ time.

“I’m wishing all the pupils, parents and staff associated with the schools all the very best for what is set to be a very bright future.”

Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure’s project partners include NORR architects, Halliday Fraser Munro, Will Rudd Davidson, WSP, Hawthorne Boyle and KJ Tait.