Smiles, laughter and plenty of exploring marked the first day at St Stephen's Community Hub for pupils in Coatbridge.
Children arrived on Wednesday 11 November to find a modern new home, built to support learning for pupils today and in the future. The hub will also serve the wider local community, by providing accommodation for a range of community groups.
The multi-million-pound community hub includes St Stephen's Primary School, a nursery class and a Language and Communication Support Centre. It also has community facilities, modern indoor and outdoor sports facilities and landscaped playground areas.
St Stephen’s Primary School recently received one of the most successful inspection reports in the country, and Head Teacher Martine Watt believes the new building will help everyone to build on that success.
She said: “It has been a really special day. The children were so excited to see their new classrooms and have settled in brilliantly.
“We are very grateful to everyone who helped to make this happen, and we are looking forward to using the new building to give our pupils the best possible start.”
Beth in P7 said: “I loved my first day in the new school. My classroom is really big and bright, and I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.”
Councillor Michael McBride, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: "It is wonderful to see pupils enjoying their first day at St Stephen's Community Hub. This is a building that gives children first-class facilities to learn and play in, and gives the local community a place to come together. I wish all the pupils and staff every success in their new home."
Local organisations that will use the hub include the North Lanarkshire Disability Forum, the Tackling Poverty Team, Families Here and Now, Carers Together and Community Learning and Development, providing advice, information and practical support to anyone who needs it.
In addition, it has the potential to host a wide range of health, learning and recreational activities, including community health walks, family learning sessions, fitness classes, music and art programmes, and wellbeing kitchen sessions.
The building, accessed from Sikeside Street, features a two-storey teaching block centred around a double-height atrium. The space includes dining facilities, a PE hall, shared activity areas and multi-purpose rooms.
St Stephen Primary School currently has 297 pupils enrolled. The new building will have capacity for 367 mainstream pupils, 66 pupils in the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC), and 50 nursery children.
It was designed after wide consultation with teachers, pupils and local people. Morrison Construction built the new St Stephen’s Community Hub, appointed by Hub South West on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council; and Ryder Architecture designed it.
David MacDonald, CEO, Hub South West, said: “We believe that great places help create stronger communities. Seeing St Stephen's Community Hub open its doors to the children for the first time is a fantastic moment and a reminder of why projects like this matter.
“We've delivered the building with our partners, but it's the children, staff and wider community who will bring it to life. We hope it becomes a place full of opportunity, happiness and lasting memories for generations to come.”
St Stephen's is part of the council's town and community hub programme. It follows on from Orbiston Community Hub in Bellshill, St Kevin’s Community Hub in Bargeddie and Gartcosh Community Hub, which all opened this year.
The extension to Chryston High School is due to open early next year.
