Deputy First Minister John Swinney has opened a new secondary school in Edinburgh today, Wednesday, 26 October.

The new James Gillespie's High School was built by Morrison Construction and delivered by Hub South East Scotland as part of the £42.8 million James Gillespie's Campus Project.

A raft of new buildings were built across the campus, which will serve pupils aged from 3 to 18 years in nursery, primary and high schools all on the same site.

The final phase of the scheme was completed in August with the opening of the new sports and performance buildings, while the A-listed Bruntsfield House underwent a major refurbishment.


Other features include a new nursery, two new classrooms and a gym at the Primary School, a new synthetic pitch at Thirlestane Road, a new main teaching block (Malala Building) with 57 classroom spaces, external courtyards, dining and social spaces.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Swinney said: "By the end of this parliament the Scottish Government will have invested £1.13bn in the construction or refurbishment of 112 schools across every local authority area, ensuring more than 60,000 children and young people are able to learn in new fit-for-purpose facilities by March 2020.

"Through our Schools for the Future programme we have provided more than £20 million towards the redevelopment of James Gillespie's High School. I am delighted to be here to officially open the new school today and see the transformational impact projects like this can have on the learning and life chances of pupils."

(LM/MH)