Highland Council’s Education Committee has today agreed to launch a statutory consultation on proposals to transform education provision in Thurso.
The decision marks an important step in shaping future investment in Thurso’s schools, giving pupils, parents, staff and the wider community the opportunity to help influence how modern, high quality education provision is developed for the town.
The proposals form part of the Highland Investment Plan and focus on creating modern, high quality learning environments that better meet the needs of children and young people now and in the future.
At the centre of the plans is the development of a new Community Point of Delivery, bringing together education and community services in a single, purpose-built campus.
The proposal being developed would include a new secondary school for Thurso, alongside a new primary school with early years provision, designed to provide flexible, inclusive and accessible spaces for learning.
The consultation will also consider proposals to bring together Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School within the new campus, creating a single, modern primary setting with improved facilities and specialist support.
Mount Pleasant Primary School would remain open and continue to serve its existing catchment.
Pre-design consultation, which sought local views, helped inform the development of more detailed proposals for the site and the process towards formal statutory consultation.
The work will be supported by the Thurso Transformation Delivery Group, which brings together partners from multiple organisations to coordinate projects and maximise benefits for Thurso and Caithness.
The Highland Council is also informed by its Highland Investment Plan (HIP), which sets out how the Council will work over the next 10 years to optimise its investment of resources in its learning estate in a prioritised manner to meet the needs of 21st century learning and teaching.
As part of this, a new generation of community facilities was envisioned for the Highlands, with Points of Delivery (PODs) providing a range of public services brought together in a single location.
The plans respond to the challenges of an ageing school estate in Thurso, with a number of buildings no longer well suited to modern learning, accessibility and inclusion.
New facilities would support Curriculum for Excellence, digital learning and a wider range of experiences for pupils, as well as improving transitions between early years, primary and secondary education.
There is also potential to strengthen Gaelic Medium Education and enhance Additional Support Needs provision through co-location within a single, integrated campus, subject to the outcome of consultation.
The statutory consultation is expected to begin in August 2026 and will include a public meeting and opportunities for written feedback from all stakeholders.
Councillor John Finlayson, Chair of the Highland Council’s Education Committee, said: “This is a positive step for Thurso and for the future of education in the town.
“Members have agreed that it is right to now move forward to formal consultation, so that the community can fully consider the proposals and have their say.
“We know that our existing school buildings present challenges, and this investment offers the opportunity to provide modern, high quality learning environments that support children and young people to achieve their best.
“It is important to be clear that no final decisions have been taken.
“The consultation process will allow us to hear directly from pupils, parents, staff and the wider community before we take any further decisions.”
The consultation will run for a minimum of six weeks, with feedback gathered from pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.
A further report will then be brought back to Members in 2027, taking account of consultation responses and advice from Education Scotland before any final decision is made.
You can read the full report which went before the education committee here https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5354/education-committee