School Numbers Dropping According To Council Forecasts
28th May 2024
On Thursday 30 May 2024 the Education committee of Highland Council will be updated on the 15-year School Roll Forecasts (SRFs) that were published in April 2024 and the recent work undertaken to support the roll forecasting and school capacity modelling processes. There will be a presentation at the Committee meeting that will provide more information, including graphics to illustrate current statistics and future trends.
The central fact of this meeting will be a presentation on reducing school population in coming years.
The Highland population is falling and the school population predictions reflect this.
For Caithness both Thurso and Wick are predicted to see a big reduction in pupil numbers.
Wick High numbers
2023/24 - 741 to 2038/39 - 589
Thurso High
2023/24 -741 - to 2038/39 -581
There are many implications flowing from these predictions affecting not only school but housing and employment. with less young people entering the job market many places of employment will be affected.
The decommissioning of Dounreay runs at the same time with a reducing workforce.
Today's plea from the oil industry that 100,000 jobs may disappear due to current government policies from greening energy and restrictions on new developments and the new taxes could also impact. On the other side new jobs ay be created in the alternative energy industries.
The meeting will be web cast - See https://highland.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/810152
The meeting starts at 10.35am
The item is number 7 on the agenda.
