Lochaber High School Gets New Head Teacher Ahead of Major Upgrade

Staff and pupils at Lochaber High School will return in the new year to a new head teacher and the prospect of work getting under way on a major upgrade of the school building.

Jim Sutherland has been appointed to the post of Head Teacher at Lochaber High School in Fort William and takes up the position with immediate effect. He has been acting head teacher since May 2006. Mr Sutherland was a Principal Teacher and then Assistant Head Teacher at Thurso High School before being appointed  Head Teacher of Kinlochleven High School in April 2001.

In the coming year, Mr Sutherland will see work start on a major school upgrade. Heery International has been appointed by The Highland Council to manage the project. A feasibility study for the development will be concluded within the coming weeks.

Phase 1 will include the demolition of the old swimming pool to make way for a new four- court sports hall and changing facilities. Demolitions are programmed to take place during the summer. Phase 2 involves new build and refurbishments and the Council is liaising closely with the school over this complex part of the project.
 
Additionally, the Council is trying to attract funding to bring the playing fields back into use and it is hoped to commence this part of the redevelopment early in spring 2008, with pitches available to the whole community on a limited use basis in 2009.

Councillor Bren Gormley, Vice-Chairman of The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: "It is an exciting time for Lochaber High School on the cusp of a rebuild, when it should regain the glory it had in the past with an inspirational head teacher leading the school."

Meanwhile, the Council has appointed a new head teacher at Upper Achintore Primary School, Fort William. He is Mr Nicholas Thomson,  Head Teacher of Hinde House 3 - 18 in Sheffield and has held this position since 2004.  Previous to this he had been an Assistant Head Teacher. He will take up his post on 7th April 2008.

At Sleat Primary School, Skye, Mrs Gwen Culberson has been appointed to the post of Head Teacher and she will take up the position on Monday 28th January 2008. Mrs Culbertson has been teaching in both English and Gaelic Medium at Broadford Primary School since 2005 and was previously a class teacher in Central Primary School Inverness.
 
Sleat Primary is a Gaelic Medium School with an English Medium Department.