There was a real sense of excitement as pupils at St Brigid’s and Newmains primary schools enjoyed the first day in their new building on Monday 20 February.
The £18 million Newmains and St Brigid's Community Hub, designed to be environmentally and energy efficient, also includes Newmains Family Learning Centre for nursery children and is home to more than 500 children and staff.
Caelan Clarke P4 pupil at St Brigid’s PS said: “I am excited about moving to our new school because I can make new friends with Newmains PS. It will be more spacious, and we will have football pitches. It will be great!”
Oliver Carlin (P1) at Newmains PS added: “I feel good and happy about going to the new school because I love school and there is a slide in the new school! I look forward to seeing new friends from the other school too.”
The new campus features bright, welcoming spaces, multi-use 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.
At the heart of the new building is a multi-use area featuring large wooden steps looking down on the stage. From here children can access the indoor slide – a feature that pupils had asked for during the pre-consultation period – which opens to a large hall for assemblies, sports and other events.
Councillor Angela Campbell, Convener of Education, Families and Children, said: “It was wonderful to see the reaction of pupils as they entered the new building. The look of wonder and excitement on their faces was a joy to see. It is a fantastic facility for the entire community to benefit from for years to come.
“The new community hub in Newmains is a clear example of the vision and ambition we have for communities across North Lanarkshire. It is far more than just a school, it’s a community facility in the truest sense.
“I am sure everyone associated with the new facility will be immensely proud of their new campus and I wish them every joy and success in their new home.”
The campus also includes a first-ever dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) themed classroom, a dedicated breastfeeding area as part of the council’s initiative to encourage more mums to breastfeed, EV charging for electric vehicles and bike storage to encourage active travel.
Catherine Corr, Head Teacher at St Brigid’s Primary, said: “Pupils and staff are extremely excited to be moving into our new school.
“Not only will our pupils benefit from a fantastic new building designed to provide a first-class educational environment, but we will be working alongside Newmains Primary and the Family Learning Centre, in what will be the first community hub of its kind in North Lanarkshire Council.
“This truly is a momentous occasion in the history of our education provision and one that I believe will unite and strengthen our community and have a positive impact for years to come.”
Orla Brennan P7 pupil at St Brigid’s said: “It will be nice to be in a new school because it will be more modern. I am looking forward to the drama box, the chute and all the new things in the playground. Me and my friends will love it!”
Scott Smith, Head Teacher of Newmains PS said: “All of the children and staff of Newmains Primary are very excited to move to the new building and join with St Brigid’s Primary.
“The new building has so much to offer our children, from state-of-the-art, flexible learning spaces to modern dining and PE facilities. There has always been a strong sense of pride in our school and our positive links with the wider Newmains wider community.
“I’m sure that this will grow further as our families and local groups also begin to enjoy the benefits of the site. We can’t wait to get in to learn, grow and have fun together in our new space.”
Hollie Fleming (P7) at Newmains PS said: “I am looking forward to starting a new chapter, sharing with St. Brigid's and making new friends. I can't believe we are going to be the last Primary 7 in Newmains Primary School and the first Primary 7 in our new school.”
Mary McAuley, Head of Centre, Newmains Family Learning Centre, said: “The opportunities this will afford our children, families, staff, and the wider community will be amazing, we are particularly looking forward to making full use of the outdoor garden spaces.
“Some of the children recently enjoyed a transition visit and saw the developments from outside and said, ‘I feel happy, I can’t wait to look inside’.
“Another child also explained how she is very much looking forward to the exploring the new lunch hall ‘because my favourite thing is the slide’.”
BAM Construction was appointed by Hub South West as the overall contractor for the project. The wider design team consisted of BDP Architects, Wallace Whittle (mechanical and electrical design engineers) and Blyth and Blyth (consulting civil and structural design engineers).
Construction on the Newmains and St Brigid’s Community Hub started on 12 July 2021.
View the opening day picture album on Flickr.