Work on an extension to an Edinburgh secondary school has been delayed and will not be completed in time for the new term as originally planned, the council has confirmed.
In a letter, parents were told progress on the five-storey extension to Boroughmuir High School - which will create an additional 12 classrooms for 300 new pupils - has stalled due to material shortages in the construction sector.
Officials said the school is working hard to ensure there are "no negative impacts on learning and teaching."
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A new completion date has not been given by contractors Graham Construction, although Edinburgh City Council said the new section of the school will not open in time for the new term next month as was initially hoped.
It added a further update will be given once pupils return from the summer holidays.
The £4.1 million project was given the go-ahead in 2019, a year after the new Viewforth building opened its doors, amid pressure from rising rolls.
Boroughmuir High School is currently almost 200 pupils above its capacity of 1,200. It is predicted attendance could rise to around 1,575 by 2025, with the extension meeting demand for 300 new pupils.
There will be 12 new classrooms on the upper floors of the new building with a 'flexible studio space' for PE and drama on the ground floor.
However, staff and students now face a longer wait before they can access the new facilities.
The council said in a letter to parents sent last week: "The extension will not be completed for the start of the new term in August.
"At present, due to the ongoing issues with labour and material shortages in the construction sector, the contractor is not able to provide us with an exact date when the extension will be completed.
"We have experienced significant delays across all construction projects and further delay remains a risk. For this reason, we will not be confirming an opening date for the extension but can assure you that we are working with the contractor to make sure the project is finished as quickly as possible.
"We understand this situation is unsettling and apologise for the ongoing issues. The school has worked hard to put appropriate contingencies in place to ensure there are no negative impacts on learning and teaching."
"We will provide a further update at the beginning of the new session in August."
Edinburgh City Council's education convener Joan Griffiths said: “I realise that parents will be disappointed to hear that the extension to the school won’t be completed for the start of the new term in August. This is due to the ongoing issues with labour and material shortages in the construction sector across the UK which means the contractor is not able to provide us with an exact date for completion.
“I want to reassure parents that we are working with the contractor to make sure the project is finished as quickly as possible and the school has worked hard to put appropriate contingencies in place to ensure there are no negative impacts on learning and teaching.
“The new extension will provide a great educational environment for pupils set over five floors with 12 new general purpose and ICT classrooms, as well as a ground floor studio space with changing rooms and staff offices.”
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