At six city schools

New campuses to open as old sites close down

Six schools – four primaries, a nursery and a pre-school centre – will shut their doors for the last time on Friday, before pupils scamper off to enjoy six weeks of sunshine.

Come August, thousands of pupils will return to new state-of-the-art “super-school” campuses, boasting top teaching tech and clean, modern classrooms.

Rosebank Primary, Our Lady’s RC Primary and Frances Wright Pre-School Centre will pack into

the new Coldside Community Campus on Alexander Street in the Hilltown.

Meanwhile, Longhaugh Primary, St Francis RC Primary (formerly St Vincent’s and St Luke’s and St Matthew’s) and Quarryview Nursery will file into the new North East campus on Lothian Crescent in Whitfield.

To mark the closing of each of the buildings – some of which have stood for decades – the Tele dipped into its own photographic archives to revisit the days gone by.

Among the pictures we pulled out were nativity plays, book readings, classes hard at work and tree-plantings – and facefuls of smiles.

Children and family services convener Gregor Murray said that, while it was sad to see the older buildings go, the new facilities would offer “more open, brighter and welcoming” environments in which kids can learn.

“It’s a watershed moment,” said the North East councillor, who attended Longhaugh Primary.

“The new buildings are very different from the old ones – a lot bigger, for one – but they’re both fantastic.

“Between Baldragon, these new campuses and the new nurseries, there’s a lot of school-building going on here in the city.”

Some of the old primary schools will be demolished.

Longhaugh will be replaced with housing, while Our Lady’s could yet make way for the contentious women’s custody unit.

However, the two nurseries will live on, with Frances Wright rebuilt and Longhaugh refurbished.

The council will use the sites to boost its childcare resources to meet the Government’s requirement to double free childcare hours.

As well as the two nurseries moving into the new facilities, an extra two will spring up in their place.

In all, Dundee’s new campuses cost £34 million to build – about £17m each.

Their arrivals come shortly after the £28.7m Baldragon Academy was formally opened earlier this month.

Although they will be sharing buildings, the schools will retain their own identities.

In the case of Coldside, the schools will form part of a community campus, sharing their building with a range of community facilities.

Councillor Murray continued: “The new buildings will have all-new equipment, bright, open classrooms and nice, modern dining areas and assembly rooms.

“They’re schools for the 21st Century – a lot more open, bright and welcoming.

“I was at Longhaugh, so I was sad to see it go. But the new buildings really are looking fantastic.”

The North East school campus will open on Thursday August 16, while the Coldside Community Campus schools will open the next day on August 17. Ourvoice

SCHOOL’S out for summer this week – but for some of Dundee’s buildings, it really is out forever.

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