School consultations and closure proposals

Current school consultations

Proposed Closure of Kinlochewe Primary School

We are seeking the views of local communities on the future of Kinlochewe Primary School, which has been mothballed since July 2022.

The Council is proposing to discontinue the provision of education at Kinlochewe Primary, and to reallocate its catchment area to that of Gairloch Primary School.

The views of parents, school pupils, the local community and others will be sought over a period extending from 13 January 2025 to 28 February 2025. A public meeting will be held on 28 January 2025 at 6.30 pm in Kinlochewe Village Hall.

View the Proposal Papers and Appendices

Comments on the proposal should be submitted to Ian Jackson, Education Officer, c/o Education Business Support Team, Charles Kennedy Building, Fort William PH33 6RQ, or by email to education.consultations@highland.gov.uk or via the online form.

Comment on the proposal

Comments on the proposal should arrive no later than Friday 28 February 2025.

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Gaelic Medium Catchment Areas for Craighill Primary School and Tain Royal Academy

We are seeking the views of local communities on a proposal to establish Gaelic Medium catchment areas for Craighill Primary School and Tain Royal Academy.

The views of parents, school pupils, the local community and others will be sought over a period extending from 20 January 2025 to 7 March 2025.

A public meeting will be held at Craighill Primary School, 6.30pm on 11 February 2025

View the Proposal Papers and Appendices

Comments on the proposal should be submitted to The Business Support Team, Highland Council Offices, County Buildings, 84 High Street, Dingwall IV15 9QN, or by email to Education.Consultations@highland.gov.uk, or via the online form below:

Comment on the proposal

Comments on the proposal should arrive no later than Friday 7 March 2025.

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Review of Proposal to Discontinue Provision of Education at Badcaul Primary School

We have published our Final Consultation Report into our proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Badcaul Primary School.

The original consultation on the proposal ran from 26 August 2024 to 11 October 2024.

A report reviewing the consultation exercise was due to be submitted to the Education Committee on 26 February.  The Council has now decided to postpone its consideration of this report until its next meeting on 4 June.

Full details of the reasons for the recommendation are contained within the Final Report and associated papers.

View Final Report and Appendices

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Nursery Classes at Caol Primary School and St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Primary School

We have been seeking the views of local communities on a possible merger of the above nursery classes, which are located within the same school campus.

The views of parents, school pupils, the local community and others were sought over a period extending from 30 September 2024 to 29 November 2024. A public meeting was held on 6 November 2024 at the joint Caol and St. Columba’s School Campus.

The consultation period has now closed. We will shortly be seeking the views of Education Scotland.

View the Proposal Papers and Appendices

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Review of the Proposal to Establish a New Primary School to Serve the Tornagrain Housing Development 

We have published the Final Consultation Report into our proposal to establish a new primary school to serve the Tornagrain housing development. 

The public consultation ran from 23 September 2024 to 22 November 2024. 

The Final Consultation Report was submitted to the Highland Council’s Education Committee on 26 February 2025. The Committee concluded that the proposal to establish the new school offers educational benefits and should be implemented.  A recommendation to this effect will be considered by the full Highland Council on 27 March.  

Full details of the reasons for the recommendation are contained within the Final Report and associated papers, which can be accessed using the link below. 

• It should be noted Appendix 3iii has been withheld at author's request

View the Final report

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Review of Proposal to Discontinue Provision of Education at Duror Primary School 

The Highland Council undertook a consultation on discontinuing education at Duror Primary School. The original consultation on the proposal ran from 4 March 2024 to 3 May 2024.

At its meeting on 26 February 2025, the Council’s Education Committee concluded that the proposal did not offer sufficient educational benefits to justify the closure of Duror Primary School, and that therefore the school should remain open.  The Committee’s recommendation will be considered by the Full Highland Council at its meeting of 27 March 2025.