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Arran High School was officially opened last Monday night
Five years ago plans were announced by North Ayrshire Council for a new school at Lamlash as part of a £80million PPP project for four schools throughout Ayrshire and Arran.
Work began on the new £15.3million school, which is built on the former playing fields of the old Arran High, in spring 2006 and it was open for business in January 2008.
Now the new school is up and running and the old building has been demolished to make way for car parking and landscaped gardens. On Monday evening former first minister and former Arran pupil Jack McConnell performed the ceremony by unveiling a plaque in the school theatre in front of an assembled gathering of pupils, staff, parent council members and councillors.
The nine-strong official party took their place at the top table in the community theatre as the company was entertained by pipers Andrew Earle and Alastair Gold and pianist Fiona Clarke. Other musical interludes were provided by the high school wind band and the sax group.
Carol Kirk, corporate director of educational services NAC, was first to speak and said: ‘Hopefully the community will feel it is their school as well as the children’s.’
John Bell, NAC executive member for children’s services, congratulated the head teacher and staff for successfully managing the transition to the new building.
Jack McConnell MSP, who was first minister until he retired last year, gave an amusing and personal speech. He said: ‘I quite like opening schools; I used to do it a lot.’
He added: ‘I was one of the lucky generation in the 70s who from the very first year knew they would be staying here and not leaving the island for schooling in Rothesay.’ Referring to his old maths teacher who is still plying his trade at the high school he said: ‘Those were the days when Jimmy Stewart still had long hair,’ which brought a laugh from the audience and from Jimmy.
On a more serious note, Mr McConnell said: ‘This school made a huge difference to our lives. I will always believe that education is central to this country’s future. Isabelle Craig, my first teacher in P1, told me on my last day in P7 at Lamlash that if I just stopped arguing and applied myself I could be anything I wanted to be. She was right.’
Reverend Angus Adamson gave a dedication and blessing and at the same time lamented the passing of the old school. He said: ‘If we do not know our past, we cannot determine our future.’
Head teacher Douglas Auld explained that the old would be linked with the new when the red sandstone block which stood over the front door of the old school was put in place in the gardens. He said: ‘For a roll of 318 pupils this school is second to none. But attracting and keeping good teachers will still be one of my main priorities.’
Mr Auld paid tribute to head cook Nan Halliday who with her team had laid on a first class buffet to be enjoyed later by the company.
Other speakers were Jim McMaster, chairman of the parent council, Calum Johnston, head boy and Councillor Margie Currie with a vote of thanks.
