The Aberfeldy community was urged to make the most of its new campus as it was officially opened.
Education secretary Michael Russell said facilities like Breadalbane Community Campus set a benchmark for schools in which the Curriculum for Excellence policy can flourish.
The campus is the home of Breadalbane Academy, which provides education to nursery, primary and secondary pupils.
One of six such campuses created through Perth and Kinross Council’s £136 million Investment in Learning programme, Breadalbane combines classrooms with sports and cultural provision.
A range of resources for use by the whole community are also available on campus including a swimming pool, dance studio, fitness suite, sports halls, drama and recording studio, meeting rooms, squash courts, a climbing wall and community library.
Mr Russell said, “Good buildings and facilities are important if we are to achieve the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence.
“Ultimately, it depends on the staff, the pupils themselves and the wider school community to ensure that a school is all it can be and that those who pass through its doors achieve all they can.
“Breadalbane is an excellent example of that ethos being put into practice and the Scottish Government will continue to invest in school buildings through the Scotland’s Schools For The Future programme and we are determined to bring even more pupils into good quality school accommodation following excellent progress in the last four years.
“For now, however, I trust the pupils and staff at Breadalbane will make the most of their new campus-the first ‘new’ school I have visited since my re-appointment as cabinet secretary.”
Mr Russell was welcomed to rain-lashed Aberfeldy by Breadalbane Academy Pipe Band, with the opening ceremony including music from primary pupils and an excerpt from the school’s first show on campus, Honk!, which will be performed today, tomorrow and Friday, at 7pm.
The campus opened to pupils and staff in December following a £30 million building programme which has lasted over two years.
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Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller said, “Today’s official opening heralds a new era for education, community and leisure provision in Highland Perthshire.
“In particular, these modern state-of-the-art educational facilities should give a huge boost to learning and teaching for pupils and teachers alike.
“The range of resources available at Breadalbane Community Campus is extremely impressive and since it opened to the public early this year it has been clear that the facilities on campus are being well-used and much valued by the local community.”
The council’s lifelong learning convener Liz Grant said, “The campus was to improve the learning and teaching environment for pupils and staff at Breadalbane Academy and to enhance access to lifelong learning, leisure and cultural opportunities for people of all ages in the community.”
Construction of the six campuses and their ongoing maintenance is being delivered through a 30-year public private partnership between Perth and Kinross Council and the Axiom Education consortium.
Sports facilities will be run by Live Active Leisure, with catering provided by Tayside Contracts. New campuses in Kinross, Blairgowrie, Crieff and two in Perth the North Inch and Inchview are also operational.