Forfar’s new £39 million community campus will present a “significant and positive development” in town life over the next 50 years, according to backers.
Due for completion next year, the replacement Forfar Academy will also provide the town’s leisure centre and swimming pool, and house community facilities such as a performance space and accommodation for adult learning and youth activities.
Some locals have expressed concerns over moving the swimming pool and leisure centre further away from the middle of town.
The academy’s “ethos group” and partners in the new school held a public engagement event at the Reid Hall to emphasise how the academy will link the old and new, while additional buses will make sure no one will miss out.
Visitors to three sessions met teachers and pupil representatives, who will give tours when the new school opens.
Work is continuing apace at the expansive site adjacent to the current secondary, having got underway in January last year.
Depute head teacher Graeme Wallace said: “The new community campus is a significant and positive development in Forfar.
“This is going to change how education is delivered in the town for the next 50 years.”
Work is also under way to install a “memory lane” at the campus before it opens in February, and anyone attending the public event is encouraged to bring along old photographs of local memories.
Mr Wallace added: “It’s important that we preserve the traditions and history of the present academy and these will be reflected in the new building.
“We are working with the Meffan museum to develop an exhibition about people’s memories of going to school here, and we’re still looking for photos and any material that tells the story.
“There’s a lot of history there.
“We are also looking to organise tours around the old building, with dates still to be firmed up.”
The work is being led by Hub East Central Scotland in partnership with Angus Council, Robertson Tayside and the Scottish Futures Trust.
