Aberdeenshire Council has been successful in its bid for £260,000 from the Inspiring Learning Spaces fund for the remodelling of part of Peterhead Academy.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education Angela Constance announced that 20 projects across 19 local authorities received funding to improve areas for learning in schools.

The Inspiring Learning Spaces fund encourages the creation of spaces for flexible learning and allows closer partnerships between schools and further education, in line with the Curriculum for Excellence.

The area in the academy proposed for development is currently used as four large separate classrooms with a resource base and storage.

It is envisaged that the space will be opened up and remodelled to create an innovative learning environment allowing both pupils and staff to come together, share and learning positively from each other.

It will also be possible to separate the areas off for individual class teaching and when not in use as a teaching space the area will be used as a social space for pupils.

The adjacent toilets will be remodelled as part of the works and modern interactive IT equipment installed to enable flexible multi-user access for both learners and teachers.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Councillor Alison Evison, said:

“It is fantastic news that the council’s bid for funding from the Inspiring Learning Spaces Fund has been successful.

Peterhead Academy is a building with lots of potential and this funding will help create an innovative multi-functional learning space, allowing the curriculum to be delivered in a flexible and inspirational environment.

School pupils and local stakeholders will have a large role in determining the detail of proposals which will develop the sense of pride they feel in their school.

The remodeling and new equipment will enable a variety of dynamic teaching methods that will increase motivation to learn and I look forward to seeing the finished result.”