The Moray Council wishes to replace Elgin Academy and Keith Primary with new schools, to be built through a public private partnership. This will be carried out using the Non-Profit Distributing model as proposed by the Scottish Government and will be procured through European Commission procurement rules using competitive dialogue. 

Elgin Academy is a six year secondary school with a current (September 2007) roll of 987 pupils. It is proposed to replace this school with a new school with enhanced community facilities, on the current site at Morriston Drive, Elgin. The existing school would then be demolished and playing fields constructed.

Keith Primary School is a primary school currently operating on split sites a short distance apart. The current roll is 346 pupils, and it is proposed to replace the current buildings with a single school incorporating nursery provision on the current north site, adjacent to Keith Grammar School, and subsequently demolish the existing school buildings and former dining hall on the site. The current south site, with its existing building, will be retained for separate disposal by the Council.

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Project update 31 October 2008 

The series of meetings with Bidders has now begun.   We have held an initial meeting with each Bidder to get to know the members of their teams, describe the documentation that we have issued, and to explain what the Council’s aims are.

We have also now had the first Technical meetings with Bidders’ design teams.  At this stage, discussions focussed on

• the current use of the schools,
• the Council’s aspirations for the design of the schools,
• analysis of the sites, including the physical characteristics, and the views,
• access to the schools and sites by pupils, staff and visitors by foot, by cycle and by vehicle,
• options for location of the new schools, and the playing fields,
• options for the shape and design of the schools, and
• safe operation of the schools during construction of the new schools.
• Planning and roads (transportation) issues.

  The Reference Groups for the two schools were involved for a considerable part of these meetings, and were able to provide direct local information on the local conditions and concerns.  The sessions with the Reference Groups was very intensive, as those involved will attest, but the Bidders gained a lot of useful information that will help them to design buildings that will better meet the local desires.

We will of course continue to refer to school staff through head teachers to discuss or clarify particular proposals affecting relevant departments.

Next week we have our first Commercial meetings with Bidders, where legal and financial issues will be discussed.  We have provided the Project Board with an update on the current crisis affecting banks and other lenders, and how this might affect the schools.  We are maintaining contact with the Scottish Government and will respond to guidance issued by them and by HM Treasury.  

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