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Kiltearn Primary set to benefit from £1m investment as Highland Council eyes lengthy backlog of work for schools


By Hector MacKenzie

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AN Easter Ross primary school is amongst three within the Highland Council area set to receive a funding boost for a planned revamp.

The £1 million-plus going to Kiltearn Primary in Evanton will pave the way for an extension to provide additional nursery accommodation.

The money will also be used to bring it up to at least a 'B' rating for both condition and suitability.

The funding comes from the Scottish Government (SG) capital allocation for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) expansion programme.

Highland Council says it will help to make" significant improvements" to Beauly, Dunvegan and Kiltearn Primary School estates.

The investment will support the council's programme to deliver the SG commitment to expand ELC provision by August 2020. That "will include significant additional capacity to ensure the expanded provision is delivered in fit-for-purpose accommodation".

Highland Council says it will invest in a new-build for nursery, kitchen, dining, games hall and ancillary accommodation, along with the demolition of some poor quality buildings, at Beauly and Dunvegan.

It says that approach will make the best use of the available ELC funding and the demolition of buildings at each school that are among the poorest in Highland, "and where major concerns exist about their condition and fitness for purpose".

Chairman of the Care, Learning and Housing Committee, John Finlayson, said: “Investing in improvements to our Highland school estate is a priority for the Highland Council and a subject of great importance to all parents and stakeholders within our communities.

"The Council is working hard to deliver the SG commitment to expand ELC provision by August 2020. This is one of the key priorities of the Council, as is the commitment to continue the programme of refurbishment and renovation of Highland schools.”

A report to Council in March 2018, agreeing the capital programme, made clear the need for capital investment was far greater than the funding available.

Eleven schools were agreed to be priorities. These include a Tain 3-18 campus; Nairn and Fortrose secondary schools; schools in Invergordon; Beauly, Broadford, Dunvegan and Tarradale primaries; St. Clements school in Dingwall and primaries in Alness and Kiltearn.

Budget leader Alister Mackinnon said: “The Council’s capital planning now assumes £50 million of capital over five years to support the 11 specific school priorities we have identified out of our total school estate of over 200 schools. The proposed capital investment is based on £25 million of council funding plus an assumed successful bid to Scottish Government for a further £25million, when this process opens later this year.

"However, £50million would not be sufficient to address the capital investment required for all 11 schools. We appreciate that communities want the best possible schools and are doing everything we possibly can to be bid-ready to make the funding case for these schools.

"We will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust, with regard to the 11 priorities and the wider school estate within Highland and will continue to pro-actively make the case for investment in Highland schools.”

Highland Council capital agreed for the three schools is as follows: Beauly £2 million; Dunvegan £1.5 million and Kiltearn £1.06 million.

The council, under pressure over a number of below-par school buildings, says it has written to John Swinney MSP, depute First Minister, highlighting the 11 priorities and the challenges it faces over an estate of more than 200 schools.

It says it has also progressed work to review options in terms of these priorities, assess what further work may be necessary to progress options assessment and sought to engage with as many stakeholders as possible.

The Scottish Government has announced a further £1 billion of funding for the learning estate across Scotland, with this to be available from 2021 onwards.

This would be expected to be matched by councils successful in securing funding, meaning a total of £2bn of investment across Scotland.

Highland Council says it expects a further announcement from Scottish Government on funding later this calendar year, providing more detail on the bidding basis, criteria to be used, and details of the funding arrangements.


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