Pupils at Stirling High have moved into a new school building in the latest project to be completed as part of a £100m Public Private Partnership deal.
The school, built by Stirling Gateway Ltd on behalf of Stirling Council, is the second of four high schools being built in the area. Local companies AL King, FES and Ogilvie Construction are partners in Stirling Gateway Ltd, the consortium who won the bid to build and refurbish the schools.
Under the 31-year PPP contract, FES will take over the running and the maintenance of the schools upon completion. All school cleaning and janitorial staff from Stirling Council will transfer under TUPE agreement to FES upon the handover of the schools.
Stirling Council will continue to be responsible for education policy.
The old school, in the city's Torbrex area, will be demolished to make way for new homes.
Councillor Colin Finlay, education spokesman, said: "The opening of this school demonstrates the commitment we have to providing the best possible environment for teaching and learning.
"By the end of 2009 all secondary pupils across the Stirling Council area will be learning in either a brand new or substantially refurbished school."
As one of the oldest high schools in Scotland, oak panelling from the former Stirling High School in the city's Spittal Street is being incorporated into the new building.
A memorial stained glass window, dedicated to former pupils who died at war, will also be installed in the public entrance of the school.
As well as providing all the traditional teaching areas for the 900 pupils and 65 teaching staff, the school will also feature a 25m swimming pool, a four-court games hall, and a fitness and dance studio.
The Public Private Partnership deal includes the replacement of the Dunblane, St Modan's, Stirling and Wallace High Schools and the extending and refurbishing of McLaren High School. Included within this deal is the community campus in Raploch incorporating two primary schools, a school for children with special needs, a nursery, a range of community facilities and further education.
FES are involved with some of the largest contracts all over the UK.
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