THEY have been in the planning for more than three years.
And now, hundreds of pupils from three city schools will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in new multi-million pound buildings.
The keys to Andrew Marvell in Barham Road, Kingswood Academy in Wawne Road and Oakfield Special School in Hopewell Road were being handed to headteachers today.
The schools have been rebuilt under the city's £400m Building Schools for the Future scheme.
The three schools take the number now open by Esteem, the consortium chosen by Hull City Council to deliver the schools, to ten.
Sam Whitaker, chief executive of Esteem, said: "The schools are looking good.
"We are handing over the keys today and pupils will be in this week.
"A lot of the staff have not seen the buildings in the state they are now, as finished products.
"Kevin Lister, headteacher at Andrew Marvell, was blown away when he saw the school just before Christmas.
"It has been a long process for the schools.
"It was about three-and-a-half years ago we started the designs for these schools.
"It does take a while and pupils and staff have seen schools open and looked on enviously.
"Now it is their turn and it is quite nice to be doing it in January."
The £24m Andrew Marvell School is a single four-storey block, which is replacing the separate individual buildings at the old school, reducing the time spent travelling between lessons and making the running of the school much more efficient.
Its six-court sports hall is one of the largest in the city and will be complemented by a floodlit all- weather pitch.
There is also a new theatre space, performance studios and fitness suite, which will also be made available to the public.
Kingswood College of Arts, which has also been rebuilt next to the old school, has been designed as community facility.
It includes a creche, gym and community café.
Mr Whitaker said: "The school has the largest science labs I have ever seen.
"The theatre is amazing – it's a mini Hull Truck. There is seating for 300. I was there the other day as they were putting the final seats in and it looks absolutely stunning."
Oakfield Special School has moved from the west of the city to the east and now has 48 residential units. The old Archbishop Sentmau Academy has been knocked down and the new Oakfield built on the site.
Mr Whitaker said: "A few of the pupils have been around the school before Christmas and they are excited to get their new schools."
