Disappointment at primary school funding bid

The Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration, Councillor Michael Foxley, has expressed his bitter disappointment at the absence of the Council from the list of authorities to benefit from Scottish Government funding for primary school investment.

112 of the council’s 183 primary schools are deemed to be in a poor condition (C). This represents one quarter of the Category  C-rated  schools in Scotland.

The Council had made a bid for funding (50%) for two new primary schools – one in Fort William to replace Fort William Primary and Upper Achintore Primary, and one in Easter Ross to replace Obsdale Primary, Ardross Primary and Newmore Primary with one new primary school.

Councillor Foxley said: “There is an urgent need in the Highlands to invest in many of our primary schools. I am bitterly disappointed that we have lost out on this funding bid, which I had hoped would have been needs-based.  It is a lost opportunity.”

The Council was one of 14 authorities in Scotland to benefit from funding from the first round of funding announcements for secondary school upgrades.  The Council is in line to receive two-thirds funding towards future investment at Wick High School.