27 October 2020

Inverurie Community Campus opens to Academy pupils

The completed £55m Inverurie Community Campus welcomes Inverurie Academy pupils back to begin the new term in their impressive new home this week (Tuesday 27 October). 

As well as an impressive array of fully equipped new classroom areas, Inverurie Academy pupils are set to benefit from a dance studio, ‘social staircase’ areas as well as other break out spaces, a balcony, an amphitheatre and even a hair and makeup/theatre dressing room learning space, as well as a gym, a number of fully equipped sports halls and multi-functional theatre space alongside the pool which opened to the community just a few short weeks ago.

St Andrew’s School students have been enjoying an enhanced transition period before joining the secondary under one roof full-time from mid-November. St Andrews will benefit from its own dedicated section of the facility, including multiple sensory rooms, a sensory garden, a warm water pool, a therapy pool and even a dedicated rebound therapy space.

The Aberdeenshire Council project is being delivered through developers’ hub North Scotland and built by Robertson who have been working to an agreed set of safe operating procedures since work re-mobilised during the summer. Construction activities have switched to the demolition of the old facilities and the completion of the external works, including new outdoor all-weather pitches.

The campus’ sports and leisure facilities are run by Live Life Aberdeenshire on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council. Various indoor facilities will become available gradually in the coming weeks. Book online at: http://bit.ly/SPAbook

Head Teacher Mark Jones is very excited about this new chapter for Inverurie Academy. He said: “Moving in to this wonderful new campus is something we’ve been looking forward to for some time. The staff team have spent a couple of days unpacking, setting things up and adjusting to new surroundings and we’re really looking forward to seeing our young people back. All the opportunities that come with having new spaces to learn in and new equipment to use will be met with a shared sense of pride, excitement and responsibility.”

Cllr Gillian Owen, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee commented: “Inverurie Community Campus really is a remarkable project, shaped by our own building brief and testament to the hard work and partnership of council officers and contractors, including hub North Scotland and Robertson Construction. We are so, so pleased to see pupils and staff being welcomed into their new school and hope they have a wonderful term ahead.”

Vice Chair Cllr Rosemary Bruce added: “It’s brilliant to see this community hub being enjoyed and Inverurie Academy moving in. Thank you to the many, many individuals and teams who have had a role to play in delivering such a fantastic new space which will benefit local people for many years to come.”    

A short clip of Head Teacher Mark Jones reflecting on last term and preparing for the move is available at: https://youtu.be/vXLii0ATCOk