Remaining Highland schools to reopen before the end of the week after first-day setback sees four in Ross-shire stay closed
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A letter is going to parents and carers of eight of Highland schools today to provide an update on when they will open.
A spokesman for Highland Council said that since it received the Scottish Government’s decision on reopening schools, extensive work has been taking place to get schools open with an agreed phased return of all pupils by August 18, the original start date of the new term.
There was unhappiness earlier after parents of children due to return to eight primary schools today were told only late last night that this would not be possible.
"We have apologised to parents for any inconvenience or uncertainty this caused, however there are exceptional circumstances at play which are beyond our control.” - Highland Council
A council spokesman said: "It is crucial that cleaning, water testing and building maintenance must be completed in all schools to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and staff.
"Specific enhanced cleaning regulations must also now be in place in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
"These issues have now been resolved for seven schools. Tore, Shieldag, Tarbat Old, Kyle and Kyleakin are all due to open tomorrow (Thursday) to pupils.
"Cleaning is to be completed at Knockbreck Primary School (Skye) to enable this to open tomorrow.
"We have staff on site for water recommissioning works at Rum Primary today and the cleaning regime is in place, so the school can also reopen tomorrow."
He continued: "Mallaig Primary School is now aiming to open on Friday following completion of contracted works and the added complication of a collapsed ceiling due to a leak.
"It is now being cleaned and all the school staff are working together to get the school open for the end of the week.
"Additional resourcing is being put in place over the next four to six weeks to deliver the enhanced standards and this should allow time to complete recruitment of cleaning staff."
Leader of Highland Council Margaret Davidson praised the work of all staff and the executive team in reopening schools across Highland from today.
She said: "Since we received the Scottish Government’s decision at the end of July, our staff have been working incredibly hard to get schools open in line with an agreed phased return of all pupils by August 18.
“I wish all pupils the very best for their first days back at school. Staff were working hard right up until late last night to get schools open with the exception of just eight rural schools and these should be in a position to open to their first pupils in the next day or two. I am very proud of them all. Enhanced cleaning must be in place in all schools as the safety and wellbeing of children and staff is absolutely paramount.
“We must remember that we are dealing with unprecedented times and exceptional circumstances beyond our control. It has been an astonishing achievement to open 195 schools early and I cannot praise the staff and the senior team highly enough.”
She added: “A decision was made to provide parents with information yesterday at 6pm, once every effort had been made to get as many schools open as possible. Unfortunately, the severe storms across Scotland and flooding at a BT exchange in Edinburgh affected widespread networks across the Highlands and so this communication could not be achieved until late last night. We have apologised to parents for any inconvenience or uncertainty this caused, however there are exceptional circumstances at play which are beyond our control.”
For more information, parents and pupils have been directed to the council's webpage www.highland.gov.uk/backtoschool for further information, which is updated daily from 7am and updates tweeted.
Were you affected? Share your views by emailing hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk
Related: Ross-shire schools amongst eight not reopening as planned
