Kirkton Primary new school celebration 2014 Slideshow

And the excited youngsters released a total of 400 balloons at a special ceremony marking the opening of a facility which they and staff members have been using since August.

“The new build is absolutely fabulous,” said Kirkton PS head teacher Moira Meiklejohn. “The facilities here are the most up to date possible.

“The children are all using words like ‘cool’ and ‘awesome’ to describe what they think about the place. Our hall, with full lighting stage, is particularly impressive.”

The countdown before the balloon launch was done by principal teacher Gillian Price, before the Kirkton pupils formed a circle and each released two or three balloons into the bright blue Carluke sky.

“It was a great spectacle,” Moira said. “Pupils’ parents had been here for an open afternoon and I was delighted with the number who turned out.”

That open afternoon – which saw parents given a tour of the new premises by P7 pupils – had been preceded by a special celebration morning assembly led by school chaplain Iain Cunningham.

It marked the completion of phase one of works on the new school, which included the construction of classrooms and playgrounds.

Phase two, building a new car park, multi-use games area pitch, landscaped picnic area, cycle racks and playground games, will be finished by January 2015.

Moira added: “It was quite sad to see the old school closing but this new one is fit for the 21st century.

“At the moment, the children’s favourite part about the new build is the fact that we now have a separate gym hall. But I think that the football pitch will become their favourite when it is ready in January.”

The pictures featured in our slideshow were taken by freelance photographer Sarah Peters.