Project partners hubNorth, which includes Galliford Try’s Morrison Construction arm, has signed off the contract for both schools.

Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of hub North Scotland, said: “Reaching financial close on both projects is a vital milestone in that it paves the way for construction on both to begin in earnest.”

In Campbeltown and Oban the new schools will be built next to the existing ones, with pupils then moving into the new buildings and the old ones being demolished to make way for playing fields, social spaces and car parking.

Oban

The new 1,300 pupil capacity building will be constructed on the grass rugby pitch at the current school site, with the 3G pitch remaining in use throughout. All works will happen to the south of the school and be accessed independently, so the school will function as normal during the works.

The council is currently looking at the school completed in the spring of 2018, with the external works following.

Campbeltown

The construction of this brand new facility, with capacity for up to 500 pupils, is also expected to be complete towards the spring of 2018 with the external works following.

The new three-story school building with associated new 3G sports pitch, music pavilion and enlarged car parking and a new dedicated pupil drop off area will replace the current 1960’s buildings.

Like Oban the work is planned in two phases, the construction of the new school building, then the demolition of all the existing school buildings.