Dundee will be awarded a share of almost £21 million to fund the creation of a brand new primary school.
More than 800 pupils could eventually begin their education at a joint primary super campus, which will replace the city’s St Luke’s and St Matthew’s, St Vincent’s and Longhaugh primaries.
The project has been the subject of extensive discussion, with a major public consultation concluding late last month and a report to be taken to the council’s education committee in May.
Though the plans have therefore yet to be signed off, the money has been made available and Dundee City Council will need to present detailed plans for the new school to ministers.
It could receive the lion’s share of the funding announced on Thursday, with the other two beneficiaries refurbishment rather than new-build schemes.
Dundee’s education convener, Stewart Hunter, said the funding would enable the city to continue the “transformation” of its school buildings.
“We are delighted to receive this funding from the Scottish Government for the proposed new school campus,” he said.
“An extensive public consultation process has been going on regarding our plans for Longhaugh Nursery and Primary, St Luke’s and St Matthew’s Primary and St Vincent’s Primary.
“The proposal aims to help improve education for our pupils and continue the transformation of Dundee school buildings that has been ongoing for many years.
“This is about investing in the future of our young people.”
The latest Scottish Government funding for new school projects was announced by Education Minister Angela Constance at Crookfur Primary School in East Renfrewshire.
It will be extensively refurbished and extended, while a third project will see similar work undertaken at Dunoon Primary School in Argyll and Bute.
Ms Constance said: “These latest exciting new school projects will provide fantastic, modern environments for thousands of young people to learn in and will be enjoyed by generations to come.
“Providing high quality learning is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s work and as part of this, we are committed to delivering well-designed, sustainable schools through our Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.
“On top of the educational benefits, these new modern school buildings will also provide amenities for the wider community to enjoy and will boost the local economies, creating apprenticeship opportunities for young people and construction jobs across the country.
“I look forward to visiting all of these new schools when they are completed.”
Back in 2013, St Luke’s and St Matthew’s was one of a number of Dundee’s schools whose condition was identified as a cause for concern following a review.
In common with eight other primary schools and two secondary schools, its condition was identified as poor the lowest possible rating.
That meaning that inspectors discovered “major defects” or considered that the schools were “not operating adequately.”
The new primary will be located on a large school campus next to Longhaugh Primary, which will also relocate to the campus.