Council approves new £87.5m secondary school plans
The old Forres Academy will be demolished once the new site opens in the summer of 2028.
www.bbc.comI don’t have live access to the latest updates right now. Here’s what I can share based on recent publicly reported developments:
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Forres Academy redevelopment: Moray Council approved plans for a new Forres Academy to replace the current secondary school. The project envisions a three-storey facility capable of over 1,100 students, with demolition of the old building after the new site opens. Construction was slated to begin mid-2026 with an autumn 2028 opening target. This is part of a broader effort to modernize schooling in Forres and address RAAC-related concerns in the existing estate.[1]
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Public engagement and local context: The council ran a public engagement process ahead of the new academy site selection, highlighting community benefits such as dedicated sports and community facilities alongside the school, while noting concerns about traffic and playing-field access. Details of the consultation and responses were reported during the 2024–2026 planning window.[8][1]
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Historic RAAC considerations: The need for replacement schools in the region has been framed in part by RAAC-related safety issues identified in the existing facilities, which has accelerated the push for purpose-built replacements like the new Forres Academy.[1][8]
If you’d like, I can:
- Look up the latest official planning updates or council minutes for the precise status as of today.
- Summarize the key project milestones (design stage, procurement, anticipated opening date) once you confirm you want current-status details.
- Provide a brief overview of how the new academy will integrate with local primary schools and community facilities in Forres.
Would you like me to fetch the most recent official announcements or council documents to confirm current dates and status?