North Schools Programme announces main contractor for new Forres Academy

Moray Council and its partners have announced the successful bidder for the construction of the new secondary school in Forres, with Balfour Beatty selected as the main contractor.

In October 2023, Forres Academy was selected for funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), with the aim of having the new school building ready for pupils by summer 2028.

The new school will accommodate 1,120 pupils, providing a modern and dynamic setting for education. This project is part of the North Schools Programme, which is a groundbreaking partnership between five local authorities across the north of Scotland to deliver new learning estate. The collaboration will deliver substantial financial, economic and social impact benefits.

Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “This is a significant milestone for Forres Academy and the wider Moray community. The new school will provide a modern, innovative learning environment that’ll benefit both current and future generations of pupils. I’m looking forward to seeing this project progress and am committed to making sure it delivers the best possible outcomes for our pupils, staff, and local community.”

Richard Park, Chief Executive of hub North Scotland, commented: “This is a key moment for the North Schools Programme in reaching the preferred bidder stage for our main contractors. A huge amount of work has already been undertaken by our local authority partners and our supply chain on progressing these projects.

“This collaboration has allowed our partners to share best practice, knowledge and resources to achieve their aims and has also helped simplify key elements which will bring cost, time and quality benefits in delivering these projects.”

Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “We’re pleased that our extensive experience in delivering world-class education facilities has been recognised in our selection to deliver the new Forres Academy.

“As we begin pre-construction works, we look forward to working closely with Moray Council and hub North Scotland to ensure the successful delivery of this modern, sustainable, and inspiring learning environment.”