Turf cutting ceremony at Netherthird Primary School

A turf-cutting event was held on Friday to celebrate the start of Netherthird Primary School with guests including Councillor Jim McMahon, Depute Leader of the Council, who performed the official ground-breaking, Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education and Head Teacher Jemma Donnelly.

Procured through the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework, this new school is part of East Ayrshire Council’s 10-year Capital Investment Programme and is set to provide a modern learning environment for pupils.

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The building will feature nine classrooms and four supported learning spaces as well as an outdoor learning zone and play areas. The building has been carefully designed, with input from local residents and teaching staff, to optimise natural light and will feature a number of sustainable solutions that will support the buildings energy efficiency.

The new school is due to complete in autumn 2022 and over the duration of the project, we will engage with the local community as part of our commitments to leaving lasting legacies in areas in which we work. We have pledged to provide:

• 8 school activity days
• 11 work experience placements
• 7 construction careers events
• 157 training weeks on site

Councillor Jim McMahon said: “This is a really exciting time for Netherthird Primary School and the whole community. It was a real honour to perform the official ground breaking with Head Teacher Jemma Donnelly and Evie from P5 and Lucy from P2. Jemma has worked closely with Kier and the project team helping to develop the design for the new school. She is committed to keeping parents, carers and the young people updated as the exciting new building starts to take shape.

I know that the children are really excited about visiting the site for planned special activity days and I was also delighted to hear from Kier that there will be 11 work experience placements for our young people during the build. Kier has also committed to holding seven construction careers events for our young people, so the build will have a positive impact on the wider community.”