Homes That Highland Pupils Will Build

Portree High School is working with a local employer in a programme that will help keep young people in Skye.

The school has identified key industry sectors - care for children and elderly people, construction, hospitality, ICT, and sport and recreation - as areas that will provide future local employment. There are also long term plans to develop a programme to include land management (crofting), fish farming and other rural skills.

Already, a programme of work has been agreed with construction company MacDonald Bros & Co of Portree, to work with S5and S6 pupils. Next session this will be offered to S3 pupils at Intermediate 1 level and for S5-S6 pupils at Intermediate 2 level.

MacDonald Bros is providing:

• advice, help and support on employment issues
• work placements for S3, S5 and S6 pupils
• skills demonstrations by builders and joiners
• professional assessment of pupils' work

Deputy Headteacher Don Esson said: "The Local Housing Plan identifies a need for 150-200 new homes to be built in the area, which will generate employment in the construction industry.

“MacDonald Bros already contribute significantly to providing employment opportunities in the island. Their involvement is proving invaluable in keeping what we are doing relevant to the world of work and in particular to the construction industry.

"We are very pleased to have MacDonald Bros as a business partner.  They are facilitating access through their contractors to every construction discipline and they are broadening pupils' experience in helping to arrange site visits.”