A major milestone has been reached for the new £88.6 million Forres Academy today (15 September), as pupils officially cut the turf at the site of their future school.
The new academy is being supported by Scottish Government funding through Phase 3 of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).
With preparatory works already underway, the special ceremony celebrated the progress made so far and marked an exciting moment in the delivery of the new academy.
Pupils from Forres Academy and its primary schools group took centre stage during the event, sharing their hopes and aspirations for the new academy and what they are most looking forward to about their future school.
The celebration began at Forres Academy with a welcome from Head Teacher Jan Sinclair, followed by contributions from Moray Council leadership, hub North Scotland and Balfour Beatty, reflecting on the importance of the project and the milestone being celebrated.
Guests then made their way to the new academy site, where pupils had the honour of officially cutting the turf, marking a proud moment for the school and wider Forres community.
High quality environment
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “I’m pleased to be supporting this exciting new campus for Forres Academy, which promises to provide a high-quality environment for pupils to thrive.
“Education is one of the best investments we can make in Scotland’s future, which is why the Scottish Government is supporting school buildings like this one through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme.
“This fund is driving improvements in schools across Scotland, with the number in good or satisfactory condition increasing from 62.7 per cent in 2007 to a record 92 per cent in 2025.
“I wish everyone connected with the new Forres Academy, and especially the children and young people, the very best for the future.”
Moray Council Leader and Chair of the Education, Children and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “Today was a really special moment for Forres and for Moray, and it felt absolutely right that our young people were the ones cutting the turf.
“Hearing pupils talk about their hopes for the new academy was a wonderful reminder of what this £88.6 million investment is all about. We’re creating a place where young people can learn, discover their talents, build friendships and make memories for generations to come.”
Modern inspiring place to learn
Forres Academy Head Teacher Jan Sinclair said: “This is a very special moment for Forres Academy and our whole school community. Our current school has served generations of young people since 1969, and today we are celebrating the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
“I’m particularly proud that our pupils played such an important part in the day, sharing their hopes for the new academy and cutting the turf themselves. This new school will give our young people a modern, inspiring place to learn, grow and create memories of their own.”
Richard Park, Chief Executive of hub North Scotland, who are Moray Council’s delivery partner for the project, said: “This is a key landmark for the new Forres Academy which is the culmination of a lot of hard work and collaboration by all the partners involved to reach this stage.
“We are all looking forward to watching the new building take shape and to deliver a fantastic facility which will be enjoyed for generations to come and which Forres will be proud of.”
Spades in the ground
Atholl McKay, Portfolio Director at Balfour Beatty said: “Getting to the point of spades in the ground is the result of months of close collaboration with our project partners, all working towards a shared vision for the future of education in Forres.
“As construction progresses, that partnership will remain central to delivering a world-class learning environment that not only supports generations of young people to achieve their potential, but also creates lasting value for the wider community through investment, skills development and local opportunities.”
The new academy is planned to open in autumn 2028 and will provide modern learning facilities for up to 1,120 pupils, including 40 enhanced additional support needs spaces.
The development will also include a new 3G sports pitch, improved outdoor areas and flexible learning spaces designed to support pupils and staff.