Five Highland schools set to benefit from £54m investment plan

Several Highland schools have been earmarked for funding as part of a £54m investment plan.

Highland Council say capital funding has been identified for five schools including Culloden Academy, Beauly and Park Primary Schools and St Clement's school.

The proposals will go before council on June 24th (Thursday).

These include an extra £9m for Culloden's expansion, which if approved, means the budget for the school rises to between £16m/£17m.

The school roll is currently capped at the Academy, with parents fearing the overcrowding issue is making the school unfit for purpose.

Last month, Highland Council said funding for the school was increased to £7.718m and no additional funds were available at that time.

Between £14m-£17m has been set aside for a Park Primary replacement and a longer term approach for early years and primary education in Invergordon.

Park Primary has been hit by three fires since February 2020, with pupils currently being taught at Invergordon Academy.

£13m has also been identified to build a replacement for St Clement's in Dingwall.

Parents have been campaigning for more than a decade for a replacement to the school, with Highland Council admitting it does not "adequately support the delivery of education" and St Clement's accommodation rated "poor” for both condition and suitability.

More spending planned for roads

Chair of the Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson said the funding is "excellent news."

He said: "Good facilities and a safe learning environment is fundamental for the education of all our young people across the Highlands and a key priority for this Administration.

"This funding is excellent news for parents and pupils and everyone in these five communities.

"Approval of such significant investment will be the culmination of long-awaited hopes and dreams of very many people in these towns and villages and by progressing these priorities, we enable other school projects to move forward and become a reality.

"We will be communicating with parents to let them know of the next steps in the detailed planning process."

Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson also outlined where else they are looking to spend.

She said: "The priority education projects are among a wide range of capital investments we are proposing.

“We are also planning additional spending on our road infrastructure and estate, waste strategy, ICT refresh, digital transformation and fleet.

"Detailed proposals will be brought back to Council in October as part of the wider work looking at the capital plan.

“In addition to the phenomenal investment we announced in March for roads, visitor management, an economic prosperity fund, and money for Wards for local issues and priorities, we are proposing a further £10M for investment in our communities.

"Our investment plans take into account the need for medium term financial sustainability and keeping sufficient non ear-marked Reserves to mitigate against future risks and uncertainty, whilst investing in Recovery."