SCOTLAND'S newest school campus has officially opened.

The new Eastwood High School, in East Renfrewshire, was built under the Scottish Government-funded 'Schools for the Future' programme, run by the Scottish Futures Trust.

The £29 million campus is one of the first to be built under this programme, which is now being rolled out across the country.

It saw East Renfrewshire council link with Midlothian Council in a unique £65m partnership deal to deliver new schools for both authorities.

By joining forces to share the same designer, contractor and suppliers, the councils between them saved over £4m.

East Renfrewshire's convener for education and equalities, Councillor Elaine Green, said: "We are proud to have been, with Midlothian Council, the first local authority in Scotland to have taken part in this groundbreaking project.

"It has been such a success that we are using the same model for the new £24m Barrhead High School.

"It was very exciting to see the new Eastwood High take shape and it is wonderful to be here again today to officially open our newest school."

Ms Green unveiled a plaque to officially open the Newton Mearns school.

She added: "The stunning new £29m Eastwood High represents a major investment by East Renfrewshire Council, which is committed to delivering the very best education facilities.

"Eastwood, like all our schools, is providing a first-class learning experience for young people - just days before the new school opened its doors to pupils for the first time, they recorded their best ever exam results. Now they have an inspiring environment to match."

The Newton Mearns school invited Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Sciences and Scotland's Languages as a special guest to the opening.

The new school boasts its own sports centre and two all-weather sports tracks that are also available for public use.

The council has invested £12m in Eastwood High, which opened its doors to pupils in August.

One of the two all-weather surfaces has been in use for a year, and work, due for completion around Christmas, has just started on the second.

A second commemorative plaque was presented to the school by Councillor Mary Montague, the convener for community services and community safety.

She handed over the memorial to the school's head boy and head girl, Mark Kyle and Bianca Deladia, and Julia Walker, from the council's sports services.

This plaque will be put on display in the new Eastwood High Sports Centre.

Dr Allan said: "Credit is due to East Renfrewshire Council for their partnership working with Midlothian on jointly procuring these projects.

"I am very pleased to be able to attend the opening of the new Eastwood High School, which will allow 1220 pupils to enjoy the best quality school accommodation following an investment of £17.4m from the Scottish Government.

"The new sports centre and two all-weather tracks will benefit not just the pupils, but the entire community, and like Lasswade, in Midlothian, the school forms a key part of Scotland's Schools for the Future."

East Renfrewshire Council has adopted the same Scottish Futures Trust joint model for the building of the new Barrhead High School, this time working with West Dunbartonshire Council.

Barrhead High is scheduled to open in August 2015.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk