THE keys to the new Nairn Academy campus have been handed over, with Balfour Beatty completing work on the £61 million project.
The new three-storey school has capacity for 800 pupils and also includes sports facilities that feature a new synthetic grass pitch, multi-use games area, a 100-metre running track, games hall and gymnasium.
The investment in Nairn is part of a wider drive to upgrade the school estate across the Highlands, with more projects set to follow across the region as part of the ambitious Highland Investment Plan, a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme to deliver improvements to schools, local infrastructure and services.
Jim McCluskie, Balfour Beatty project manager, said, “Handing over the keys to the new Nairn Academy is an important milestone for everyone involved in the project. Working closely with Highland Council, we have delivered a modern, Passivhaus-certified school that provides high-quality learning spaces while achieving excellent energy performance standards.
“We are proud to have played a part in creating a facility that will support pupils, staff and the wider Nairn community for many years to come.”
Nairn Academy head teacher, Julie Macdonald, added, “It’s a really exciting time for all of us associated with Nairn Academy. We are very grateful for this significant investment for the Nairn community. We are positive about the benefits the development will bring to our young people, colleagues, partners and the wider community.
“Our Balfour Beatty contractors have done a fantastic job. We have enjoyed working with them from the initial plans through to completion. They have engaged well, keeping us informed and included throughout the process. It has been brilliant to watch the build take shape and it now provides us with a fantastic teaching, learning and social space.”
Captions:
Nairn Academy head teacher Julie Macdonald joined by pupils and Jim McCluskie, Project Manager, Balfour Beatty to cut the cake to mark the school handover
Nairn Academy head teacher Julie Macdonald takes delivery of the keys to the new school from Jim McCluskie, Project Manager, Balfour Beatty, along with pupils, staff and councillors, including Nairn provost Laurie Fraser, Nairnshire Committee chair Michael Green and education chair John Finlayson
