It's the start of the new academic year and pupils at Boclair Academy in Bearsden have an extra exciting checklist:
- New school bag - check √
- New pens - check √
- New school - check √
The new building opened today - Friday 19 August 2022 - to more than 1,000 pupils who experienced the wow factor as the starting bell rang out at the fabulous £40.9m school.
Over two floors, the state-of- the-art learning environment features a large entrance atrium, flexible learning zones, performance spaces as well as sports and dining areas. The decor is bright, fittings and furniture are modern and rooms are airy with lots of glass to afford views of the countryside. This walkthrough video gives some idea of how it all looks
Council Leader Gordan Low went along on the first day to meet some very excited (and nervous) S1 students and to chat to some returning sixth formers.
He said, "It was great to get a look at this truly impressive new school and to meet some of the students who will be learning in it over the coming years. What an exciting time for them, especially after the disruption they have faced to their education as a result of the pandemic. I was impressed by their enthusiasm and it was clear that they are all eager to explore and begin school life in their inspirational new surroundings."
Headteacher Douglas Brown added, "We are finally here in our stunning new school and we are all over the moon to be starting this exciting new chapter together. We have been a part of the design and construction journey and to see our ideas and suggestions come to fruition is just wonderful. It is such an inspirational space that I just know our young people are going to thrive in it.
"Moving from the old school was an enormous task and I want to pay tribute to all the staff at the school who have worked extremely hard to get classrooms ready for today's opening. It has been a true team effort."
Rachel is one of the new S1 intake and enjoyed her tour of the enormous building. She said, “I expected the new school to be a bigger version of the old building and was really surprised at how different and modern it looks. I’m really looking forward to starting my classes next week.”
Harli is moving into S6 and said, "I'd visited the new school at different stages of its construction and could see how our ideas and suggestions were being taken away and now that I see the finished article I can't believe how brilliant it looks. My personal passions are dancing and sports so I am especially excited by the performance space and gym hall. I can't wait to discover all the new things the school has to offer!"
Councillor Low concluded, "My thanks go to everyone who has worked on the new school from the outset, through the pandemic right up until today. And I wish all the staff and pupils the very best in their new home."
Work will now begin on improved outdoor sport facilities alongside a fully integrated landscape design which will include car and cycle parking bays.
Boclair Academy has been delivered by the Council in partnership with the SCAPE Construction Framework and contractor Wates Construction Limited/McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Limited. Here is a list of the partners involved:
- The procurement framework used for the design and delivery of the new building through its Supply Chain. SCAPE is a public private joint venture organisation established to develop and deliver value for money property solutions for its public sector partners.
- Wates Construction Limited: The Main Contractor, appointed through SCAPE, to construct the new school.
- McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Limited: Sub-contractor appointed by Wates Construction Limited to complete the whole works.
- Ryder Architecture: The architecture firm, appointed through SCAPE, to design the new school.
- Doig & Smith: the Council’s Contract Administrator and independent cost consultant.
- Curtins: the civil and structural engineer for the project.
- Hawthorne Boyle: the mechanical and electrical engineer for the project.
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