Call for one new single secondary school for whole of Badenoch and Strathspey

Local Highland councillors have suggested the time has come to consider one new single secondary school to cover the whole of Badenoch and Strathspey.

They have pointed to roll projections for Kingussie High School and Grantown Grammar School which forecast a slump in pupil numbers in the coming 15 years.

They have also raised concerns over the conditions of the two ageing buildings.

But any move to one secondary school - and in particular its whereabouts - would provoke huge local controversy.

The call was made at the latest meeting of the council’s area committee in Kingussie’s Courthouse.

Councillor Bill Lobban (Independent) said: “I have some concerns over roll forecasts in both schools.

“There are currently 781 pupils between both schools but in 10 years’ time that will have dropped theoretically to 571 pupils which is a 27 per cent reduction in the number of pupils in the schools.

“Now maybe I am going to be a little bit controversial here but in the end if we are looking at these changes over a 10-year period then should Highland Council be looking at closing both of these elderly and ageing schools and building another one more suitable for the number of pupils we can expect?”

Councillor John Bruce (Scottish Conservative) said: “Should we not be considering construction of a new school right now?

“I do not think that the two existing schools are particularly in good and healthy form - the building themselves.

“With the length of time these projects seem to take, should we not be thinking about this now?”

Area committee chairman Councillor Russell Jones (Independent) observed: “Obviously there will be other social and community issues to look at as well in addition to the state of the buildings.”

The Kingussie school is currently at 63 per cent capacity with 419 pupils out of maximum number 660.

Council projections show the lowest roll will be in 2035/36 with just 272 pupils whilst the longest term figure available for 2038/39 is for 286 pupils (43 per cent capacity).

Grantown Grammar School fares little better. There are currently 362 pupils which is 64 per cent capacity of the maximum 570 places available.

By 2038/39 the forecast is for 278 pupils (49 per cent of maximum capacity).

Council education officials at the local area meeting stressed they could not answer directly on the need for a new school.

But they said councillors’ comments would be reported to the authority’s estates strategy team.

They also pointed out the falling local secondary school rolls are part of a national and regional trend.

Highland Council has been approached for an official comment.

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