John Swinney, Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Government formally opened the new Evie School on Friday 15th of June.

The school was built with a grant of £1.36 million from the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme and £1.74 million from Orkney Islands Council.

John Swinney said:

“It was a pleasure to be asked to officially open Evie Community School, which is a fantastic new state of the art facility that parents, learners and staff can all be proud of.”

Council Convener Harvey Johnston said:

“A new school serving Evie and Rendall had been an aspiration for the Council and the local community for many years.

“We are grateful for the assistance we received from the Scottish Government in getting the project off the ground. From the warm welcome offered to the Deputy First Minister today, it is all too apparent how pleased the children and staff are with their new school.”

The school currently has 38  pupils in the primary and 16 in the nursery.

Councillor Rob Crichton, Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said:

“We are very proud of the new school. It is light and airy and insulated to the highest standards – a tremendous learning environment for the pupils and a fine building that will serve the local community well for many years to come.”

Head teacher Ingrid Rendall is delighted with the new building.

She said:

“It offers a very positive learning environment with space that we can use flexibly, access to the outdoors from all classrooms and a community wing which serves the parishes of Evie and Rendall well.”

John Swinney (R) and Harvey Johnston (L) at the opening of the new Evie School