A MILESTONE has been reached ahead of a new primary school opening in Haddington next summer.

The 260-tonne steel frame for Letham Mains Primary School, which will be home to 500 pupils, has now been completed by Morrison Construction.

Work began on the £8.6 million school, which will be at the heart of more than 800 homes on Haddington’s western edge, in April.

The superstructure, including steel work, pre-cast concrete installation and a first-floor reinforced concrete slab, was completed during a 10-week schedule. Once complete, the school will feature 14 classrooms suitable for pre-school and primary teaching, a dining hall, social space and a two-court PE hall with retractable seating for performance and community use.

Outdoors will be designed for outdoor learning, physical education and play.

The school is being funded entirely by contributions from housing developers.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s spokeswoman for education and children’s services, said: “It’s really exciting to see the progress that’s being made on our newest primary school.”

“Having the steel frame in place gives a better idea of the size and scale of the building and the facilities that the school will offer for children and their families.

“I’m also pleased to see the amount of engagement that Morrison Construction is undertaking within the local community to ensure the benefits of the project are already being felt.”