Pupils at Eastern Primary in Broughty Ferry are to have their summer holiday extended by half a week to allow for the school’s £1.6 million transfer to its new site.
The need for major works on the A-listed building on Whinnybrae that has been its home for the past century is forcing the move to the former Grove Academy site in August.
“Eastern Primary will close to pupils for an extra day and a half before the end of term (Thursday, June 30, and the morning of Friday, July 1) and also for an extra day (Wednesday, August 17) at the start of the new school year to help facilitate the primary’s relocation to the old Grove Academy,” a council spokesman confirmed.
“This type of closure has been standard practice for school moves in the last few years in Dundee.
“For example, it was used during the opening of PPP schools across the city. Dundee City Council has been given Scottish Government approval for these extra closures for pupils.
The move did not win favour in all quarters when it was first mooted and a project board was set up to look at issues of concern, including road safety for pupils and potential traffic congestion in the area.
The council also consulted parents and carers of pupils as well as representatives of the teaching and support staff.
In the consultation report travel and transport arrangements were highlighted as a major source of concern but the council insisted traffic management systems are already in place at the main road crossings in the area and they will be supplemented by providing school crossing patrollers.
The council has also pledged to move quickly to have the former school building back in use after residents expressed concerns it would be a magnet for vandals while vacant.
With that in mind, the local authority has already drawn up a report on possible uses for the empty building, which suggest housing is the most likely option though would-be developers are warned they face a “complex” task in retaining the school’s “nationally-important” architectural features.