SCOTLAND'S largest primary school, built to accommodate 900 pupils and 100 nursery pupils under a PPP scheme, was officially opened by Jack McConnell, the first minister, yesterday.

The replacement of Mearns Primary School with a new building was funded by East Renfrewshire Council as part of a joint public private partnership project costing (pounds) 12.5m which also provided a 24-classroom extension at St Ninian's High School, Giffnock.

Mr McConnell said: ''Scotland's children deserve the best possible start in life and a first-class education system is vital if we are to achieve this aim.

''To deliver quality teaching, we must also have quality school buildings and that requires significant investment.

''Better buildings improve attendance, discipline and school performance.''

''Across Scotland, we are already seeing the transformation of Victorian buildings, creating a modern teaching environment for the twenty-first century. Mearns Primary is an example of the kind of facility which we can achieve. I am confident this new school will live up to these high standards and give the community modern facilities fit for the twenty-first century.''

The new Mearns Primary, which opened in August 2001, is expected to have a school roll of 865 by 2006. The old school, which had a roll of around 600, could not be extended to accommodate its growing roll.