A NEW £18m school hub in North Lanarkshire has been declared officially open at a special event.

Pupils, parents, carers, staff and local politicians celebrated together at the Newmains and St Brigid's Community Hub, also includes Newmains Family Learning Centre for nursery children.

Designed to be energy efficient, it is home to more than 500 children and staff, with bright, flexible teaching areas, an 11-a-side outdoor sports pitch, extensive outdoor play areas and new paths to connect the community. Trees have been planted to create a forest school for nursery and primary pupils. 

Glasgow Times: Pupils, staff and local VIPs celebrated the official openingPupils, staff and local VIPs celebrated the official opening (Image: North Lanarkshire Council)

There is also an indoor slide and a stage, which opens to a large hall for assemblies, sports and other events. 

Pupils from the schools’ joint choir entertained the audience and pupils Emily and Robyn spoke about their positive experiences of moving to the new building, before helping Provost Kenneth Duffy unveil a plaque.

Provost Duffy said: “The new hub really is an outstanding facility, and it will bring joy to generations of young learners. The future looks incredibly bright for Newmains and St Brigid’s primary schools, the family learning centre and for the wider community here.”

Lindsey Mitchell, of BDP Architecture, presented head teachers Catherine Corr (St Brigid’s PS), Scott Smith (Newmains PS) and Susan Fraser (Newmains Family Learning Centre) with gold award trophies for best education project from this year’s Scottish Design Awards.

Glasgow Times: The headteachers were presented with design awardsThe headteachers were presented with design awards (Image: North Lanarkshire Council)

Lindsey said: “Schools are at the heart of any healthy community. The project has always been about collaboration, and about creating a place for learning. It really is an exceptional space for community activity."