Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School has now had its official opening, marking a “special moment” for West Dunbartonshire Council’s latest “flagship school”.

Elected members, parents, pupils, staff and invited guests attended the new £25m Bellsmyre school on Tuesday, March 27.

The school was officially opened by convener of educational services, Councillor Karen Conaghan, who is a former pupil of Notre Dame and an OLSP parent.

As part of the opening ceremony guests were entertained with a performance from singers Caitlin O’Sullivan and Callum Latham and heard a moving performance from Sarah Docherty on piano.

Guests were shown a video which highlighted how students are benefitting from the new building and detailed the history of how Notre Dame and St Patrick’s came together to create Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School.

Cllr Conaghan said: “Since opening in October the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School has transformed the educational experiences of the 1,000 young people who attend.

“This is a high-performing school which has a history of attainment and the building offers the perfect environment to continue that success.

“Classrooms are fully furnished with modern state-of-the-art equipment with large break-out spaces to facilitate innovative and inspirational methods of learning and teaching.

“These new facilities offer our young people the best possible facilities to support them to become confident individuals and successful learners”

Head teacher, Christopher Smith, was delighted with how the official opening went.

“This was a special moment for everyone connected with the school,” he said.

“Our Lady and St Patrick’s is not only a school, it is a whole community. We are immensely proud of our history and heritage and the opening of this new build marked the next chapter in our journey.

“Pupils and staff are delighted with the design and quality of the school and are making the most of the new learning environments and facilities which are enhancing opportunities for our young people.

“This is a school built for the modern curriculum and we are looking forward to the future and supporting many more young people to achieve all that they can.”

Laura Mason, chief education officer, added: “I have every confidence that this new building will support generations of young people to attain and achieve.”