Today (Wednesday 22nd April) the first pupils were welcomed through the doors to Highland Council’s flagship Tain Campus development.
First to sample the state-of-the-art surroundings were those attending the newly established Tain primary school – which combines the former Craighill and Knockbreck Primaries – along with pupils from St Duthus School.
The new £72 million campus also brings together Tain Royal Academy onto the same site, providing education for children and young people aged 3 to 18. The Academy pupils are due to make their move on Wednesday 3 June, after the SQA exams.
Each school will retain its own identify in the new campus with some shared learning environments and facilities.
At a preview visit before the school holidays, staff and pupils gave the new campus a resounding thumbs up.
You can view their thoughts here (link to social media)
New Tain Primary Head Teacher Simon Scott said: “Today is a special day for all our school community – it’s a privilege to be the first head teacher of this brand-new primary school.
“The schools they are leaving behind hold many precious memories for so many people in Tain, but we hope that we can now create an affection for the new place, something people will hold dearly in their hearts for the future.”
Iain MacIver, Head Teacher at St Duthus, said: “The facilities we have, such as the soft play sensory room and the garden are fantastic and a real sign of progress.
“We are looking forward to gaining access to things we did not have previously - like a games hall and gym hall. It opens new opportunities for us.
“The children will still have their own space, but they will also be part of a wider campus at the same time. There’s scope for greater cooperation across all three schools.”
Staff from St Duthus ahead of the opening
The Head Teacher of Tain Royal Academy, Darren Jarvie, said: “Having everyone under one roof will help us build a strong community. It brings major benefits when it comes to the transition between schools, and we can host more events to bring all in the Associated School Group together.
“The space we’ve got available to us, the PE halls, the outdoor space, having access to that every single day is going to lift spirits and offer opportunities that we weren’t previously able to provide.”
As well as early years, primary, Gaelic medium, and secondary provision, the campus includes a range of new community facilities including after-school access to outdoor sports pitches, a two-court gymnasium, four-court hall and a dedicated dance and drama studio.
Tain Campus is the first school building in Highland to be Passivhaus certified, incorporating high levels of insulation, an airtight building fabric and a mechanical ventilation system with efficient heat recovery.
The new community campus will replace existing school buildings that are no longer fit for purpose.
The investment in the community campus is part of a wider drive to upgrade the school estate across Highland, with more projects set to follow across the region as part of the ambitious Highland Investment Plan, a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme to deliver improvements to schools, local infrastructure and services.