The future of education in St Ninians looks bright as work gets underway on a new primary school.

The first sod was cut last month at a special ceremony on site attended by councillors, school children and Scottish Government Minister for Learning Dr Alasdair Allan.

Also in attendance were representatives of Hub East Central Scotland who are leading the project and builders Robertson Construction Central.

While the school’s existing Victorian section will be retained and refurbished to provide a dedicated home for the nursery class, primary school pupils and staff will be accommodated in a new two-storey building.

Here a wide, flexible “school street” will allow break out from classrooms for small group learning while more flexible dining, social and PE spaces will provide better facilities for larger whole school events including assemblies and school shows.

The £8.2 million development cost is being funded jointly by Stirling Council and the national Scottish Schools for the Future programme.

It’s just the latest in a round of recent projects Stirling Council has spearheaded to improve the school estate.

In June work began on a whole new St Margaret’s Primary School and nursery for Cowie while over the summer break the council’s Infrastructure Development Team moved in to carry out more than £500,000 of improvement works across many more schools and nurseries.

Projects included heating replacement at Gargunnock Primary School; installation of energy-efficient lighting and a new fire alarm system at Strathblane Primary School; replacement of radiators at Dunblane Primary School and provision of extra teaching spaces for pupils attending the autism provision at Riverside Primary School.

Vice Convenor of Stirling Council’s Education Committee, councillor Margaret Brisley, said: “St Ninians is a school very much at the heart of the community and it’s great to see work beginning that will ensure this position is maintained for years to come.

“Outstanding education is a combination of great teaching, engaged parents and excellent facilities that maximise the opportunities for excellent learning experiences. The new school building that will be created here will enable all of this to be achieved.”