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| Part of the frontage of the new Harris Academy building as it looks this week |
This morning, I participated in the latest Harris Academy Project Board meeting. The Board oversees the strategic aspects of the new school building project and we had a very positive update about construction progress.
The building is substantially complete and can be handed over to the City Council by Robertson, the contractor, subject to snagging works that always are required with any new build, plus some slabbing work. Residents will note the ferris fencing at the front of the site and the temporary huts being removed in the near future.
It was agreed at the Project Board today that it makes sense for senior pupils to come together in the new building for the last three weeks of term in June as a “soft opening” of the building, before it opens to all pupils at the start of the new academic year in August. The reason this makes sense is that senior pupils start their new academic year work in June and with pupils from the current Harris and Menzieshill High School coming together, the best way to progress is for senior pupils to come together at the new Perth Road building at that stage. Parents and carers will be fully informed about arrangements in the near future – this will obviously include transport arrangements in June for those pupils not within walking distance of the Perth Road building.
There will also be an induction day at the new building for younger pupils during June.
We also agreed that a transport sub-group of the Project Board will finalise the long-term bus provision in the near future (discussions with the bus companies and other arrangements are well advanced) and there will be opportunities in the coming weeks for the community to see round the fantastic new building.
It was a very positive meeting today and we agreed to have one last meeting of the Project Board in October once the school has settled in its new home in case there are any outstanding issues by that time.