Turfs cut for Mallaig High School Hostel

A turf cutting ceremony was held today (Tuesday 10th June) at Mallaig High School to mark the award of a construction contract for The Highland Council’s £4 million residential hostel at Mallaig High School to Les Taylor Construction.

The new hostel will enable the Council to meet its longstanding ambition to provide suitable residential accommodation for pupils from Canna, Eigg, Rum, Muck and Knoydart attending Mallaig High School to be accommodated as one group.

The three-storey, 21 bedroom facility, is being built by Les Taylor Construction on a site adjacent to the school which was donated by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

Sponsored by the Council’s Education Culture and Sport Service, the building has been designed by architects in the Council’s Housing and Property Service. The new facility will provide a comfortable, safe and homely environment for those staying at the facility. The design includes provision for dining, quiet space, social areas and maximises the use of the site through its access and views from the bedrooms.

Councillor Bren Gormley, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “This is a real step forward for the Council, an asset to the community and I look forward to it becoming fully operational. Not only will the hostel provide pupils a stable environment and certainty as to where they will be staying during their secondary school career it will also be a  useful community resource out with school terms for residential workshops and holiday accommodation.”

Martin Sullivan, Mallaig High School Head Teacher said: “The new hostel is very good news for the school and the community. The families that our pupils have lodged with over the last ten years have done an excellent job, but, from next year, we will be able to have all the children from the Small Isles and Knoydart under one roof, where they can gain support from each other and have professionals on hand to address their individual and common concerns. A recent documentary featured two of our pupils moving from small Primary schools on Eigg and Knoydart and looked at some of the difficulties that they had in making friends and adapting to life away from home. The hostel will help to make this transfer much easier for them.”