In March, Aberdeenshire Council agreed plans for a new primary school to replace the existing Fraserburgh North and St Andrews Schools as well as a new primary school to replace Dunnottar Primary School in Stonehaven. The proposals were included in the Capital Plan and council officers began carrying out reviews of engagement, cost, and scope information.

The committee learnt of plans for a new 450 pupil capacity primary school to be built which will see Fraserburgh North and St Andrews Schools merged into one new school. The project is likely to cost in the region of £18.12million. A re-zoning exercise of both schools along with Lochpots and Fraserburgh South Park Schools will also take place.  

Widespread consultation in Fraserburgh as well as informal engagement will take place as the plans involve school closures and a school merger.

Cllr Gillian Owen, Aberdeenshire Council’s education and children’s services committee chair, said: “The new multi-million-pound primary school will make a massive difference to the school estate in Fraserburgh. We are committed to investing in state-of-the-art school buildings that provide the best possible environment for pupils to learn as well as for teachers and staff to thrive.”

Committee vice chair Cllr Rosemary Bruce added: “I would encourage as many residents in Fraserburgh as possible to take part in the engagement and consultation that are due to take place. We want to listen to everyone’s views so that we can consider local views and feelings.”

A review of the existing and new cost and scope information for the Stonehaven proposal is also underway. During this process, consideration is being given to the relocation of Carronhill School as part of any future project.

Two options to upgrade the primary school estate in Stonehaven are currently under consideration subject to assessment and feasibility work.

The first option would see Dunnottar Primary School replaced with a new 217 capacity primary school worth potentially £9.5m.

The second option proposes that a new shared campus on the grounds of Mackie Academy is constructed. It would include a new 217 capacity primary school replacing Dunnottar Primary School, and a replacement school for Carronhill School with a capacity for 48 children and both schools would sit alongside the existing Mackie Academy building. This project is estimated to be worth £18.5m.

There will be consultation and informal engagement on both proposals because they involve a relocation and a rezoning exercise.

Cllr Gillian Owen said: “A key focus in the modernisation and investment in our special school estate is to ensure the highest standard of care is offered to those children who attend. One of the benefits of a campus approach is the mutual sharing of resources and facilities on one site. This modernisation of primary schools in Stonehaven will be a huge benefit for the local community.”