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Inverurie campus opens its doors


By David Porter

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A special ceremony held today marked the end of one era and the beginning of a new one as the Inverurie Community Campus welcomed its first pupils.

Piper Brian Lynch piped in pupils from Inverurie Academy and St Andrew's to the new campus.
Piper Brian Lynch piped in pupils from Inverurie Academy and St Andrew's to the new campus.

Led by piper Brian Lynch the procession of senior pupils made its way from the old Academy to the new one to be welcomed by Academy head teacher Mark Jones and St Andrew's school head, Gina Drummond.

Head teacher Mark Jones said: "Were looking forward to the next phase for us here at Inverurie Academy.

"There are wonderful facilities that we are surrounded by now.

"I think the key feature for me is the fact that we are also going to be sharing our campus with a number of community partners - Live Life Aberdeenshire, St Andrew's school and groups and clubs from the community.

"We are bringing a huge amount of heritage from the school, a building that we were in for over 110 years before, but I am hugely proud and excited that our staff and students are having the chance to lead this next chapter for Inverurie Academy.

Head teacher Mark Jones watched as the first pupils were formally welcomed to the campus.
Head teacher Mark Jones watched as the first pupils were formally welcomed to the campus.

On the move over he added: "We have taken both physical and virtual elements over to the new campus.

"Physically we had an artist who is going to do some work in the coming months and we've transferred the statue called the spirit of education over, but also transferring our core values of ambition, inclusion, integrity and respect taking forward into the new school.

"We will welcome 1050 pupils through our doors and will see that increase in the coming years.

"Coming into the new school's facilities, such as the atrium and the sports centre has really had that wow factor for staff and students.

Pupils from Inverurie Academy and St Andrew's were welcomed to the new campus
Pupils from Inverurie Academy and St Andrew's were welcomed to the new campus

Chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council's education committee, councillor Gillian Owen said: "Here we are £55million later and what a fantastic building.

The key point of this facility is the community aspect and it is an amazing new resource.

"The whole ethos of these facilities is to give better opportunities to our young people and this will certainly go a huge distance to achieving that.

"Covid-19 has put a damper on progress elsewhere in Aberdeenshire but we are moving forward.

One of those joining in on the first opening was Crichie house captain Erin Christie said: "The new building is a lot nicer that the old one and offers us much more up to date facilities, including our own dining area.

"The classrooms to are much more up to date and that will make a big difference to the learning environment.

The atrium forms the heart of the new Academy.
The atrium forms the heart of the new Academy.

St Andrew's head Gina Drummond added: "The new campus will offer our supported pupils a rich new and up to date environment and we are all looking forward to our transition which for us takes place in a few weeks time."


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