3 June 2026: Education Committee

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 9.35 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance

Business

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithris Fhollaiseachd

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Good News/Outstanding Achievements
Naidheachdan Matha/Coileanaidhean Air Leth

4. Statutory Consultation: Request to proceed to consultation on the relocation of Thurso High, Pennyland Primary and Miller Academy Primary Schools to a new setting serving all three schools
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Iarrtas a dhol air adhart gu co-chomhairleachadh a thaobh a bhith a’ gluasad Àrd-Sgoil Inbhir Theòrsa, Bun-Sgoil Pennyland agus Bun-Sgoil Acadamaidh Mhic a’ Mhuilleir gu àite ùr a bhios a’ frithealadh nan trì sgoiltean

There is circulated Report No EDU/11/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to agree to proceed to statutory consultation, based on the proposal attached to the report at Appendix 2.

5. Statutory Consultation: Relocation of Beauly Primary School – Final Report
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Gluasad Bun-Sgoil na Manachainn gu àite ùr – Aithisg Dheireannach

There is circulated Report No EDU/12/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress being made in relation to the Highland Investment Plan and the development of a Community Point of Delivery in Beauly;
ii.  note the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposal to relocate Beauly Primary School;
iii. note the report from Education Scotland at Appendix 4 of the report, and the educational benefits identified;
iv.  agree to recommend to the Council that Beauly Primary School be relocated from its current site to a new site west of Cnoc na Ràth, Beauly, as part of a new Community Point of Delivery; and
v.   agree, subject to iv. above, that officers should fully address and discharge the recommendations and matters raised by Education Scotland as set out in the Consultation Report at Appendix 2 of the report.

6. Statutory Consultation: Request to proceed to consultation on the relocation of Plockton Primary School
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Iarrtas a dhol air adhart gu co-chomhairleachadh reachdail a thaobh a bhith a’ gluasad Bun-Sgoil a’ Phluic gu àite ùr

There is circulated Report No EDU/13/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   agree that the Council proceeds to a statutory consultation, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, on the proposal to permanently relocate Plockton Primary School to the Plockton High School campus;
ii.  agree that the Council uses the opportunity to engage on an informal basis about the future location of Plockton Nursery Early Learning and Childcare to the High School campus; and
iii. note that a further report will be brought back to Committee following the conclusion of the statutory consultation.

7. Temporary School Closures – Statutory Guidance, Governance and Adoption of Policy
Dùnaidhean Sealach Sgoiltean – Stiùireadh Reachdail, Riaghlachas agus Gabhail ri Poileasaidh

There is circulated Report No EDU/14/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the updated statutory guidance relating to temporary school closures and the distinction between temporary and permanent school closures;
ii.  approve the Highland Council Temporary School Closures Policy, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;
iii. agree that planned temporary school closures are brought to the Education Committee for approval prior to implementation; and
iv.  agree that unplanned or immediate temporary school closures are reported to the Education Committee as soon as practicable after a decision is taken.

8. Learning Estate Strategy Update
Cunntas air Ro-innleachd na h-Oighreachd Ionnsachaidh

There is circulated Report No EDU/15/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   approve the updated Learning Estate Strategy included in Appendix 1 of the report;
ii.  note the Core School Facts Summary included in Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. agree to a Member and officer workshop to consider school catchments in the Inverness area with the aim of bringing an update on progress and next steps to next meeting of the Education Committee.

9. Improving School Inspection Outcomes
A’ Leasachadh Bhuilean Sgrùdaidhean Sgoile

There is circulated Report No EDU/16/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider and note the contents of the report; and
ii. approve the plan for reporting to Area Committees shown in Appendix 1 of the report.

10. Delivery Plan Monitoring & Progress Update – My Highland Future Q4 2025/26 Sgrùdadh & Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh – Àm Ri Teachd Mo Ghàidhealtachd R4 2025/26

There is circulated Report No EDU/17/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  scrutinise and note the Delivery Project updates provided in the report; and
ii. note the extensive activity and progress to date across all workstreams and headings.

11. High Life Highland Progress Update
Cunntas air Adhartas High Life na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No EDU/18/26 by the Chief Executive, High Life Highland.

In addition to the report, there will be a presentation by Steve Walsh, Chief Executive, and Julie Corcoran, Head of Libraries and Archives, High Life Highland.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the contributions made by High Life Highland to the Highland Council’s Corporate Plan in Appendix A of the report;
ii.  the information on the annual performance indicators;
iii. the information on the externally funded summer of sport programme;
iv.  the general updates provided in Appendix B of the report;
v.   the information on the libraries service in Appendix C of the report.

12. Highland Sport Strategy Updates
Cunntas air Ro-innleachd Spòrs na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No EDU/19/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the commissioning of Hub North and Mott MacDonald to develop a Highland Sport Strategy proposal; and
ii. consider and note the commission brief at Appendix 1 of the report and the programme timeline at Appendix 2 of the report.

13. Presentation: Youth Convener Update
Taisbeanadh: Cunntas air Neach-gairm na h-Òigridh

There will be a presentation by the Highland Youth Convener, Leah McBain.

14. Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report – Q4 2025/26    
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Coileanadh Ràitheil – R4 2025/26

There is circulated Report No EDU/20/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the performance information for the Education Service.

15. SEEMiS Update    
Cunntas air SEEMiS

There is circulated Report No EDU/21/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the current position of SEEMiS as the Management Information System used by all schools;
ii.  the challenges and limitations associated with the current system; and
iii. the risks associated with both continuing with SEEMiS and sourcing an alternative solution.

16. Highland Children's Services Partnership Plan 2026 - 2029    
Plana Com-pàirteach Seirbheisean Chloinne na Gàidhealtachd 2026–2029

There is circulated Report No EDU/22/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the work undertaken by the Integrated Children’s Services Plan Board in producing the draft Highland Children’s Services Partnership Plan 2026 - 2029. This plan will be formally signed off by the Community Planning Partnership Board; and
ii. note and provide comment on the plan which has been approved by the Integrated Children’s Services Planning Board.

17. Minutes of Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee    
Geàrr-chunntas Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Urras an Fhoghlaim

The draft Minutes of the Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee held on 16 March 2026 are circulated for noting.

18. Membership of Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee

The Committee is invited to agree the revised membership of the Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee, the details of which will be tabled at the meeting.