Scottish Government response to new school proposals for Tain and North West Skye
Tain 3-18 Campus
The Highland Council can confirm that it will proceed with its proposal to establish a brand new 3-18 School Campus for Tain, at an estimated cost of £45m.
Scottish Government Ministers have considered the Council’s proposal to establish the new Campus in Tain, and have decided that the Council has fulfilled its obligations under the Schools (Consultation)(Scotland) Act 2010.
The Council will therefore now progress its proposal to replace all existing education provision within Tain. The new Tain 3-18 Campus, to be located on the existing Tain Royal Academy Site, will replace the existing Tain Royal Academy and Community Complex, Craighill Primary School, Knockbreck Primary School and Gaelic Nursery, St Duthus Special School and Tain Nursery.
Funding has already been allocated within the Council’s capital programme, and the Council will be progressing the project in liaison with Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust as part of the “Scotland’s Schools for the Future” programme. An ambitious target has been set for the new Campus being operational in Autumn 2018.
Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement and look forward to this exciting new development being progressed to deliver a modern new campus for Tain and the surrounding community. We will now move forward with further local discussion on the design and specification of the new campus, to provide a facility to meet the needs of current and future generations.”
North West Skye schools
Highland Council has been notified that the Council’s proposal to establish a new community school in Dunvegan, North West Skye, has been called in by Scottish Government Ministers.
The Council’s proposal is to establish a new community school in Dunvegan, replacing the existing provision at Dunvegan, Edinbane, Knockbreck and Struan Primary Schools.
Ministers may issue a call in notice if it appears to them that the education authority may have failed to comply with the requirements of the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010, or may not have taken proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.
The proposal will now be referred to the School Closure Review Panel, who will reach a decision in relation to the Council’s proposal. Highland Council will not progress implementation of the proposal meantime.
Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: “We note that the Council’s proposal to establish a modern new community school for North West Skye has been called in. This is due process to ensure that there has been full and proper consultation in relation to the Act, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that this has been the case. The Council will co-operate fully with the School Closure Review Panel to allow a final decision to be reached. The Council remains firmly of the view that there are strong educational and community benefits from the proposed new community school.”