Official Opening of Acharacle Primary School
27th February 2012
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP will officially open Acharacle Primary School on Friday (2 March 2012) during a visit to Lochaber which also includes a guided tour around Ardnamurchan High School,now in its 10th year.
Arriving at Acharacle on Friday afternoon he will be joined by Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley and the Education, Culture and Sport Chairman, Councillor Bill Fernie to celebrate the success of the school which opened its doors to pupils in May 2009.
The pioneering eco-friendly timber school is proud of its title as "Scotland's first wholly sustainable school". Built at a cost of £6.5 million, the school incorporates many special features such as high insulation levels, lots of natural light and minimal mechanical and electrical engineering to ensure a very low energy use.
Children are taught in four classes - two in English and two in Gaelic. Facilities include five classrooms, one of which is available for community use, a Gaelic and Bi-lingual nursery, a multi-purpose hall, a dining area, music practice rooms, changing rooms and an entrance foyer that can be used as an extension of the school facilities and small community gatherings.
Currently there are 47 pupils in P1-7 and 15 in the Gaelic and Bi-lingual nursery. Since it opened the school has provided a range of after school and lunchtime activities, a Gaelic homework club a healthy tuck shop and a school choir.
Head Teacher Lyndsay Bradley said: "We are all busy rehearsing music and songs to entertain the guests during the official opening and the pupils are looking forward to showing people around their school. We are very fortunate to have such a committed and skilled team of staff, parents and volunteers who support and challenge our children to achieve and succeed and it is fantastic that they now have the space and resources they need to do this effectively."
Councillor Foxley said: "The children are clearly flourishing in their new surroundings and enjoying the benefit of high quality teaching and support staff. It was a long campaign to have the old school rebuilt - and with great facilities for the community. I am delighted The Highland Council invested so heavily at Acharacle and combined with Ardnamurchan High School we have educational facilities to match any in Scotland."
Councillor Bill Fernie said: "Over the past few years the current administration has made education one of its main priorities. We have tried our utmost to ensure that new schools were high on our agenda. Tackling the problems in imaginative ways and looking ahead to the next 50 years has meant that where possible we have looked at educational benefit and evironmental changes as can be seen in the new school at Acharacle."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
