A lot has happened in just over a week.  Most of the roofing sections for the main building have been lifted into place by the crane.  Meanwhile, the walls for the changing rooms are well underway in the PE block.  Excellent progress!  Also included in these photographs are the views from the Head Teacher’s office window.  What a change since March when the playing fields became a building site.  This was my final view from my office this afternoon before retirement.  Hugh McCulloch takes over as Head Teacher next week.  He has been heavily involved in the project and will see it through – including keeping this blog going.  I look forward to returning for the handover of the building in October 2016 and seeing the dreams of my 13 years at Elgin High School become a reality.  We didn’t make the original target of summer 2015, but it has been great working with folk from Balfour Beatty, Hubco and Moray Council and I am delighted that the pupils and staff of EHS will soon be able to enjoy modern, first class facilities that they so richly deserve.  Thank you!

Andy Simpson

Amazing aerial photographs show the new build against a background of much of the EHS catchment area. The roof on the PE block is finished and the roofing materials for the main block were being unloaded this afternoon with the return of the huge crane. Meanwhile the concrete for the PE floor has been laid and is starting to be poured for the main block. Very good progress!  Very much enjoyed my brief visit to the site on Friday – good to be able to get onto the first floor and get a real sense of the layout.  Thank you!  An excellent way to mark my retirement.

Construction of the new building continues to make rapid progress. A very positive report was given to last week’s meeting of the steering group which includes local councillors, Parent Council representative and Moray Council staff.

Latest photographs include a selection taken by a drone flying over the site last week.  However, even since then the buildings have changed.  The roof is now on the PE block.  Everyone was fascinated to watch the giant crane lift the sections along the length of the building.  Meanwhile the frame for the main building continues to grow and cannot be far from completion.  The school website – www.elginhigh.moray.sch.uk – has a link to a time lapse film of the first months of construction.

Last week’s visitors from Zambia thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Elgin.  The had the opportunity to inspect the construction site and were very impressed.  This week the work continues to advance quickly.  The frame of the main building is almost complete.  The arrival of the massive crane will see the roof sections for the PE block moved into place.  Meanwhile there have been useful meetings finalising details of some interior areas.

What a change over  a few days.  The aerial pictures were taken on Wednesday 10th August.  Less than two weeks later the frame for the main building is well under way and growing fast every day.  The PE block is ready for the roof to be added later this week.  A group of Zambians arrive tomorrow.  We are looking forward to give them a tour of the construction site.

Today the new session started for staff and tomorrow the pupils return.  It will be great to watch the reaction of the young people as they see the change in the new build over the summer.  A second crane arrived today and it was amazing to see how quickly new sections of the frame were constructed.  A quick meeting with Balfour Beatty staff has helped prepare plans for further involvement of pupils and staff with educational projects and visits.

SQA results day today.  There was much to celebrate amongst EHS pupils with some excellent passes at all levels of SQA courses.  Well done to everyone.  Meanwhile the work on the new building continues.  The lift shafts are now in place.  This has been quickly followed by work on the steel frame.  Quite a change in the view from the library window!

There was no sunshine or blue skies toay. However, the construction site was very busy with concrete being poured into the foundations for the main block.  There was also much work going on around the base of the lift shafts.

Three weeks is a long time on a construction site!  Since the start of the holidays there have been big changes – particularly with the steel framework for the PE department now in place.  Concrete was being poured for the foundations of the main block with signs that there will soon be changes to be seen there with the building of the lift shafts.  Good to see several members of the local community looking at the site with high levels of interest.