IT IS a once-in-a-lifetime chance to alter the education landscape, which the city of Hull has grabbed with both hands.
Already, thousands of children are being taught in world-class facilities under the city's £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.
This week, the consortium delivering the new buildings, Esteem, will hand over seven more schools to their grateful staff and pupils.
Sam Whitaker, chief executive of the Esteem Consortium, which is delivering the schools, said: "Every time we hand over another school, the sheer sense of pride overwhelms me – now more than ever it is simply beyond belief in terms of what has been accomplished in a relatively short space of time.
"A multi-million pound investment has been made into the future of thousands of students returning to the seven new schools and I am sure they are eager to start learning in them."
Among them is the new Hull Trinity House Academy.
The school, formerly situated in Princes Dock Street, opposite Princes Quay, has moved to a new city centre location.
Boys at the school will return to the refurbished and rebuilt former University of Lincoln Building in George Street, city centre.
Those passing the site will not have failed to notice the new frontage in George Street with the Trinity House Logo emblazoned on the side.
In total, £10m has been spent refurbishing the former university building. The school will also increase in numbers from 300 to 600 boys.
Newland School for Girls has also seen a significant amount of work go in to give pupils some of the finest facilities.
An £11.5m new build and refurbishment has seen the historic building, and its quirky features, remain but with significant refurbishment and investment in facilities inside.
There has also been new buildings added to the site.
Angela Martinson, headteacher at the school, in Cottingham Road, said: "The staff came in on Monday to see the school and they were all wowed by what has been done here.
"Without exception, they were all positive and pleased with the new schools and that bodes well for when the girls arrive because they will be equally as excited."
The school has seen its grade two listed buildings refurbished as well as a new teaching block added to the school.
The teaching block includes features such as a multi gym, a recording studio and specialist spaces for art and drama.
There is also a new four-court sports hall for the girls.
Mrs Martinson said: "The girls used to have a 1950s, very old fashioned gym with not very attractive changing areas. It is superb now, they have a wonderful four-court area, which is national standard, and I think they will really like that."
The school has also had extensive landscaping.
In total, more than £50m of new buildings and refurbished school will open to thousands of pupils when they return to school this week and next.
Also included is the St Mary's College refurbishment and new build. The £19.5m development has seen a new sixth form built with the rest of the school having been refurbished.
Already, £300m of schools have opened, making it the biggest school rebuilding programme the city has ever seen.
Those schools already opened have been lauded across the globe for their stunning design and architecture.
Mr Whitaker says education in Hull is moving in the right direction with results rising as well as the chance to learn in new schools.
He said: "Time after time, I marvel at these beacons of education which now dot the landscape of Hull – the city is being defined by its education in a positive sense.
"Across the board, education is getting better and, in turn, the long-term opportunities of so many young people are being improved."
With so many schools now open, the BSF project on the ground is drawing to a close.
Contractors will remain on site at many schools to finish planned work outside the building.
Work is also due to start on the planned Kingswood Parks Academy – a new primary school for Kingswood.
Mr Whitaker said: "While the work on the ground begins to draw to a close, Esteem will remain, and so too will the impact these establishments have on learning. That will be felt for generations to come. The legacy exists and will do so for a great many years.
"During the course of the programme, I have met so many young people from across the city who have been engaged, eager and positive about their futures. They have wanted to learn, they have wanted to get on in life, and many have said to me that their new schools make them proud and make it easier for them to achieve."
Pupils will return to their new schools this week and next week and will begin to enjoy some of the finest facilities in the country.
Mr Whitaker said: "It's always been about more than buildings and that is evident today more than ever. The ethos and the understanding, the focus and the concentration, all of this continues to galvanise everyone together, political leaders, teachers, students, parents, family, friends and businesses. If everyone continues working together in this spirit created by BSF, then the £400m will prove to have been a bargain indeed."
The schools being handed over are: St Mary's College, Newland School for Girls, Hull Trinity House, Frederick Holmes, Northcott Special School, and Ashwell and Fountain House pupil referral units.
