A fresh start for Lenzie pupils

The new £11.5million Lenzie Meadow Primary School and nursery class opened its doors to pupils for the first time last Thursday (August 18).

It was built on the site of the old Lenzie Moss Primary and is now home to 568 pupils from there and Lenzie Primary, along with 58 pre-school children in its new nursery.

It is the second school to be delivered by East Dunbartonshire Council as part of its controversial Primary School Improvement Programme.

The first was the award-winning Lairdsland Primary in Kirkintilloch which opened in Spring 2015.

The scheme is seeing a number of schools merged and moved into new buildings - a process which has led to worried parents holding demonstrations and organising petitions in a bid to stop the closures.

Lenzie Meadow Interim Parent Council has been working alongside council officers to ensure that the new school meets the needs of pupils and parents within the community.

Co-chairs, Gordon MacDonald and David North, said: “We are delighted that the new Lenzie Meadow Primary School is open for the start of the school year. It is a fantastic new building and will be a great educational resource for our children.

“We would like to thank all the East Dunbartonshire Council officers, teachers and the staff of Lend Lease who have worked so hard to get the building finished and ready for occupation.”

Pupils are now busy getting to know the layout of their new school and playground and meeting new classmates.

Headteacher Greg Bremner said: “When the children arrived at school and nursery there was such a buzz – not only from pupils but also from parents and staff.

“We feel very privileged to work in this wonderful building full of amazing learning opportunities.

“I would like to thank the staff and parents involved in the planning for this new building. Staff have worked so well in preparation for this day and are delighted to be here and working with learners from both schools as we build Lenzie Meadow community.”

Council leader Rhondda Geekie said: “I am delighted to see the new school up and running and hope that the teachers and pupils will settle in quickly to enjoy their new environment.”