National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music

A delegation from The Highland Council took part in discussions to identify a way forward for the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, Wester Ross. 

Those in attendance at the talks were Council Leader Councillor Michael Foxley, Education Culture and Sport Chairman Councillor Bill Fernie, Chief Executive Alistair Dodds; and Director of Education Culture and Sport, Hugh Fraser.  They met Rector of Plockton High School, Duncan Ferguson, and Director of the Centre, Dougie Pincock. 

In setting its budget for 2011/12, the Council decided on 10 February to withdraw the annual funding for the Centre of Excellence, with effect from July 2012. At that meeting, the Council said it would engage in talks to identify future funding for the centre, which is based at Plockton High School, where the 19 residential pupils form part of the 303-pupil school roll. 

At the meeting, Mr Pincock was given the go ahead to proceed with his annual audition of S 1-6 pupils to fill the 7 vacant places at the centre next school session. 

Councillor Foxley said he fully recognised the impact of the Centre on the quality of life of the school and the life of the pupil residence at Plockton High School.  

He said: “We had a very useful meeting at which we considered ways of making the operation more efficient in terms of the standing and operating costs and looking at a range of options for generating more revenue.  Significant savings can be made with affecting the standard of tuition. At the same time, we need to identify alternative sources of funding to keep this important centre open beyond the summer of next year.” 

Councillor Fernie said: “There is no doubt that the centre provides a very high standard of music tuition to pupils. However, in light of a very difficult financial position, the Council has had to make some tough decisions.  One of these is the withdrawal of funding for the centre from July 2012.  We therefore have 15 months in which to look for other ways of funding the centre and our meeting  was a constructive start to the process.”