PUPILS from a Greenock primary built bridges with construction bosses as they quizzed them about the progress of their £7 million new school.

Children from St Patrick’s have been decanted at the former Sacred Heart building in Larkfield since the summer but a group of them returned to their usual Broomhill base last week to see how contractors are getting on with their new, purpose-built facility.

Pupils Ava Engleby and Jay Keith, both of P6, Ben McGilvray from P4 and Anna Stevenson, who is in P7A, are all part of a ‘hub group’ which is liaising with builders Lend Lease to keep tabs on the development.

They visited the Broomhill site on Friday to check on the progress and also interviewed site manager Graham Lindsay and project boss David Sutherland about their roles, the St Patrick’s project and the construction industry.

The youngsters also presented pieces of art from fellow pupils which had been designed as part of a competition by Lend Lease to highlight the dangers of building sites.

It will soon be displayed on a large timber hoarding at the entrance to promote the safety message.

Project manager Mr Sutherland was delighted to welcome the pupils to the site and keep them informed about how their new school is coming along.

He said: “We like to work closely with schools in forming a good relationship during the construction programme.

“We will continue to do more events as the programme develops.

“It will involve activities both here on site and at the decant school.

“It makes the pupils feel part of it all and that’s what we like to do.

“The poster competition emphasises the dangers of a construction site and makes sure the children are aware of the risks involved.”

The old St Patrick’s building was demolished in September to make way for a brand new school, which is being funded by Inverclyde Council and a £3.4m grant from the Scottish Government.

It is due for completion by October this year.

Mr Sutherland said: “Despite the difficult weather conditions, the project is progressing well.”

The steel framework of the building is up and the fit-out is expected to begin in March.

From left to right, Graham Lindsay, site manager, with pupils Ava Engleby, Jay Keith, Ben McGilvray, Anna Stevenson and David Sutherland, project manager.