Plans for a major improvement to the fabric of the 952-pupil Lochaber High School were unveiled on Thursday of last week at a meeting of local Highland Councillors, School Board members, pupil representatives and school staff. Representatives from the Parr Partnership Architectural Practice of Dundee presented the meeting with the results of a feasibility study following a detailed three-month consultation process led by The Highland Council’s Education Culture Sport Service and the school community.

The study has identified an approximate three-year timescale and a project budget cost of £7.7 million for construction and a further £2.5 million for phasing and implementation costs.

A report on the study will be presented to the Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee on August 11 when the Service’s capital plan will be discussed.

The independent consultants recommend a mix of new build, refurbishment and demolition which could significantly change the external view of the school, ensuring that it can be recognised as a modern school building and provide a 21^st Century teaching environment.

The study identifies new build to include a pupil entrance, library, music facilities and administration block, whilst internal refurbishment is identified as significant changes to teaching spaces in the form of relocated Technical Rooms, Home Economics Rooms, general Classrooms and the upgrading of the Physical Education Faculty to create a cohesive teaching and activity area. The central courtyard would be opened up with a view direct to Ben Nevis through the demolition of the central 3-storey building that shades the current courtyard. As part of the changing of the school façade and opening up of the school entrance the demolition of the current administration block, janitor’s house and minor buildings is also proposed.

Councillor Michael Foxley, Council Vice-Convener and Chairman of the Lochaber Area Education Culture and Sport Committee, said the plans were a credible, practical vision for the future and had been well received by the meeting. Over the coming months, the Council would be sitting down to consider future spending plans on school projects. The proposed upgrading of Lochaber High School would be considered, along with other projects, when the Education Culture and Sport Committee meets on August 11.

Donnie Campbell, Rector of Lochaber High School, said: "The Feasibility Study presented to the school community is an imaginative and creative solution to providing a 21^st Century school for Fort William. There remains much work to be done and there will be challenges ahead. We very much look forward to that, though, and to securing a transformed Lochaber High School building."

Hilary Hemm, Chair of the Lochaber High School Board, said: "Members of the School Board were delighted with the presentation of plans for refurbishment of Lochaber High School. The plans meet the aims of the school refurbishment project extremely well and we consider them to be a very sound base on which to build. We look forward to working with the school, local members and the authority to ensure that sufficient funding can be found to enable the refurbishment to go ahead and meet the school’s desperate need for a 21st century upgrade."

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Date Last updated : 26/05/05