5 days ago
Excitement as £80 million new Perth High School building opens to pupils this month
Work is now under way moving equipment and resources into the new building ahead of pupils returning to school
Perth High School headteacher Martin Shaw is excited to welcome staff and pupils into the new building later this month.
The new £80 million Perth High School is complete and will open to pupils on August 21.
Mr Shaw sees it as a "proud moment" and a chance to "raise the bar".
Work is now under way to transfer school resources and equipment into the new building.
Perth High School staff will start the 2025/26 session with an in-service day on Monday, August 18 followed by two exceptional closure days to allow teachers to unpack and set up their classrooms.
Perth High School pupils will enter their new school on Thursday, August 21 - with all other Perth and Kinross Council schools opening to pupils for the new term on Tuesday, August 19.
The new Perth High School has been built on the school's existing Oakbank Road site. The previous building - built in 1971 - was rated "C" or "poor" for suitability.
The secondary is Perth and Kinross Council's largest school. The new building will accommodate up to 1,600 pupils and 140 staff over three storeys.
Like Perth's Riverside Primary, it has been built by Robertson Construction Tayside to Passivhaus building design standards in order to save energy.
Planning permission for the new Perth High was first granted back in March 2022. It was originally due to open in August 2024 but the opening was delayed by a year due to "challenges within the construction industry".
In June 2022, PKC's head of business and resources Greg Boland told the Property Sub-committee, the build had been affected by "the implications of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and also currently the war in Ukraine which is causing a lot of issues regarding supply, tender prices and material prices".
The cost soared from an initial budget of £50 million in 2021 to ultimately costing £80.2 million. Half of the capital cost is being met by the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme.
Perth High School Headteacher, Martin Shaw said this week: "Moving into our new school building marks a bold new chapter for Perth High School. It is a chance to raise the bar, bringing our values of ambition, respect and equity to life in a space designed for excellence and equity.
"With removals under way and preparations in full swing, we are focused on setting the tone for the year ahead, raising expectations in everything we do, from effort and attitude to how we carry ourselves each day.
"This is a proud moment for our school and wider community and we are excited to welcome all our school staff and pupils to the new Perth High School in August."
Vice-convener of PKC's Climate Change and Sustainability Committee and local Perth City South ward Lib Dem councillor Liz Barret said: "I'm delighted that Perth High School has been delivered on time, to provide modern 21 st century facilities for pupils and staff.
"The building to Passivhaus standards - including solar panels - means that energy use will be reduced, helping us to address the climate emergency."
