New Session Heralds the Opening of Four New Schools

Four schools will open their doors for the first time next week as 32,163 Highland primary and secondary pupils begin the new school session.

The new £28 million Portree High School opens on Tuesday with a school roll of 640.  In addition to classrooms which are bright and airy and equipped with the latest technologies, the school provides excellent community facilities including a new swimming pool part-funded by sportscotland, a new public library, a games hall, a climbing wall and a performance venue.  Since these community facilities opened at the beginning of July they have been enjoyed and well used by locals and visitors to the Isle of Skye.

On Thursday 80 pupils will walk through the doors at Drummond School in Inverness for the first time.  The £14 million new school has been specifically designed to cater for the special needs of children.  It will provide a warm and welcoming environment for nursery,  primary and secondary age pupils.

Facilities include 14 classrooms, a swimming and hydrotherapy pool, a library, a dedicated IT room, a home economics room, music and art rooms, sensory rooms, soft play rooms and meeting rooms.  Outdoor facilities include playing fields, a sensory garden and a separate nursery area.

The third and fourth schools to open will be Kinlochleven High and Primary School on Friday 22 August.  This joint campus school cost £11.7 million and will be used by 200 primary and secondary pupils.  It will also be very much at the heart of the community as the public library, service point and a performance venue,  part funded by the National Lottery through Scottish Arts Council, are also incorporated in the building.

Chairman of the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie said:  “ I am sure pupils and staff at these four new schools are really looking forward to getting settled in their new schools.  The building of the schools show our commitment to providing the best educational and teaching opportunties and I wish all the staff and pupils many happy years of learning.”