Council welcomes funding boost for IRA replacement

The Highland Council has warmly welcomed confirmation that Inverness Royal Academy is one of the 67 schools in Scotland to benefit from major funding from the Scottish Government’s “Scotland’s Schools for the Future Phase 3” Programme.

The 936-pupil school is in line for a £37.5 million replacement as it is in poor condition and it is located in an area of major growth in the city.

Council Leader, Councillor Drew Hendry said: “This is great news from the Scottish Government.  This funding boost will allow us to proceed quicker than would have been the case with this much-needed replacement of one of our largest secondary schools. A major construction project will also be great news for the local construction industry in these challenging times."

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of the Council’s Adult and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Not only will a new school allow us to provide state of the art educational facilities but also meet equalities legislation and provide and energy efficient sustainable facility for the future.”

Alastair McKinlay, Rector of Inverness Royal Academy, said: “"I am absolutely delighted with the news and am looking forward to engaging with the authority in moving the whole process forward as quickly as possible. It's great news for the entire school community, not just staff and pupils."