Mushrooms grew in damp classrooms

Mushrooms were found in “various” damp-ridden classrooms and gyms at one of the north’s top performing schools.

In the latest in a string of complaints about dilapidated Fortrose Academy, it has emerged fungi has been found at “various times and in various locations” at the school.

Last night, MSP Kate Forbes said the revelation made her “skin crawl” and left her “disgusted”.

The mushrooms were growing in classrooms and outside gyms due to “water ingress”, although the local authority and parents insisted the issues had now been resolved.

Fortrose Academy Parents Council raised concerns earlier this year about the “appalling” state of the older buildings at the Black Isle secondary, demanding urgent action to address the damp and mould.

Ms Forbes, the SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, was shocked by the problem and said it underlined how some of the classrooms were clearly “unfit for purpose”.

She said: “I am disgusted to learn that mushrooms have been growing within Fortrose Academy, at various times and in various locations over the past few years. Even thinking about it makes my skin crawl, and I have every sympathy for staff and pupils at the school who have been using these facilities.

“While I acknowledge that the fungus has since been removed, the reality is that it had been growing a few feet away from pupils as they were being taught in a classroom that was clearly unfit for purpose.

“This further demonstrates that there are legitimate and growing concerns about the general condition of parts of the school building.”

Last night, the parent council said it had been “pleased” by the response of the local authority after concerns were raised about the state of the school.

Emergency funding was agreed in February to address some of the issues, and councillors are expected to discuss the problems again at a meeting on Wednesday.

Council architects are also believed to have visited the school last week to discuss demolishing and remodelling the showers in the PE department, amid reports that female pupils were refusing to use them because of their state.

The parent council said the biggest issue facing Fortrose Academy and other north schools now was the “massive problem” recruiting teachers.

Parents also reported that the mushroom issue was finally dealt with last year, although Highland Council insisted the most recent recorded case was in September 2014.

Damp and mould in the girls’ showers