Work is under way in Perth to build the 100th new school in Scotland as part of a national programme.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney MSP, cut the turf on Thursday at the site of what will be a new secondary school at Bertha Park.
It is due to open in August 2019 and will be the first new secondary school to be built in Perth and Kinross since 1972.
It follows a review of the school estate which identified a new Perth secondary school as a priority.
The school is an integral part of the £1 billion Bertha Park development which will result in 3,000 homesover the next 30 years and create around 450 building jobs.
Bertha Park High School will receive £19.6 million of funding from the Scottish Government and will be the 100th new school in the £1.8 billion Schools for the Future Programme.
The programme, which launched in 2009, aims to bring about the construction or refurbishment of 116 schools in Scotland by March 2020.
It’s anticipated the new Bertha Park High will create around 200 jobs over its construction period, including 17 apprenticeships.
Mr Swinney said: “Bertha Park marks the 100th school in our £1.8billion Schools for the Future programme and I am very pleased to get work underway on this milestone project.
“We are providing £19.6 million towards the school as part of our aim to ensure our children and young people have access to inspiring environments which enable all of them to engage with their learning.”
He continued: “We have made fantastic progress and have wonderful, award-winning schools across all parts of Scotland which stand as testament to that.
“Bertha Park will be a very welcome addition to the school estate and I look forward to seeing the project once it is complete.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s lifelong learning committee, added: “This project will be a unique opportunity to build a new school community from the ground up.
“We look forward to welcoming our first cohorts into the innovative learning environment that will be Bertha Park High School.
“The council will work with the parents and carers of the young people who will become pupils at the new school and continue to communicate with them throughout this process to ensure any questions are fully addressed.”
The new secondary school catchment area will include pupils from Bertha Park, Almond Valley and Perth West, as well as Auchtergaven, Logiealmond, Methven, Pitcairn, Ruthvenfield, Oudenarde, Forgandenny, Forteviot and Dunbarney.
