School spending concern

Kate Forbes MSP has praised a school building programme’s £63m investment in the Highlands – but questions why the local authority continues to have the worst school estate in the country.

Since 2009, the SNP has given Highland Council £50.6m to build new schools and £12.5m to refurbish buildings – the second highest amount of all local authorities in Scotland – more than Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow city councils.

But the MSP for Lochaber highlighted that despite this significant investment from the Scottish Government, Highland Council has the worst school estate in Scotland and that she has personally visited schools on the Isle of Skye, Lochaber and Dingwall that are in desperate need of improvement.

Kate Forbes MSP said: ‘Despite receiving more funding than nearly all other local authorities, Highland Council still has the worst school estate in Scotland. Most schools have been built in densely populated areas including Inverness.

‘So while it is good news Highland Council received so much funding through the Schools for the Future programme, it is sad this funding has not gone further so that more school buildings could benefit.

‘I can think of several schools in my constituency, including Broadford, St Clements and Invergarry, which are in dire need of refurbishment but have been left until last.

‘Supporting Highland pupils, teachers, parents and wider communities with state-of-the-art school buildings, combined with the £170m Attainment Scotland Funding this year, should help ensure every child in Scotland gets the best possible start in life, no matter what school they go to.’