Parents of teenagers in England are being told that they will need to understand a new range of vocational qualifications as their children approach the age of 14. The Career Development Institute has welcomed the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs, which are due to start being introduced in England from 2029.
For many years Highland Council has faced difficult decisions over small rural schools. Some have closed, others have been mothballed, and communities have often argued that a village school is about much more than the number of children sitting in its classrooms.
Researchers at UHI North, West and Hebrides have used portable solar power to run radar equipment during seabird fieldwork at Dunnet Head, Caithness - believed to be one of first times renewable energy has been used to power radar fieldwork at the university. During summer fieldwork at Dunnet Head, a PhD researcher, Amy Jones, was using a marine radar to monitor seabird activity when an unexpected generator failure prompted the team to find an alternative way of powering the equipment.
Scotland’s college sector is facing a financial problem that cannot be solved simply by asking colleges to cut their cloth a little tighter. That is the uncomfortable message from a new Audit Scotland report which shows colleges cutting staff, reducing courses and relying increasingly on short-term financial support while the number of students being taught continues to fall.
Highland Council’s strategy to raise attainment in the region is making good progress, with encouraging early data emerging from this year's examination results. Last week councillors on the education committee noted the work undertaken in Highland Council's Education and Learning Improvement Plan (ELIP) and the associated Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy (RAAS).
Highland Council’s Education Committee has (3 June 2026) agreed to launch a statutory consultation on proposals to transform education provision in Thurso. The decision marks an important step in shaping future investment in Thurso’s schools, giving pupils, parents, staff and the wider community the opportunity to help influence how modern, high quality education provision is developed for the town.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is structurally different from most UK universities. It is not a single compact campus institution but a regional “distributed university” model, made up of a partnership of colleges and specialist centres spread across the Highlands and Islands.
Thousands of families to gain new opportunities to learn, earn and thrive. As a result of £21 million of new, targeted investment in colleges and skills, families at risk of poverty will receive additional support to train, to help them enter stable, well-paid work or progress in their career.
Primary school pupils in Caithness and Sutherland will have the chance to dive into engaging science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) activities, thanks to a new funding agreement from NRS Dounreay. The three-year commitment will enable the Science Skills Academy (SSA) to deliver practical STEM learning at the Newton Room in Thurso, helping young people aged 10-14 explore how STEM connects to real-world applications.
The latest College Statistics 2024-25 report from the Scottish Funding Council shows a clear decline in the number of students participating in further and higher education at colleges across Scotland. Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years, the total number of college students decreased from 218,145 to 209,285 This is a fall of more than four per cent in just one year and part of a broader downward trend amounting to roughly 16 per cent fewer students over the last two years.
Last week Wick High School was delighted to welcome guests from The Highland Council, Wick High Parent Council and the wider community to the open day of a new facility for children with additional support needs. Avonlea, which was previously a residential unit, has now been repurposed, and this enhanced provision represents a significant step forward for pupils with complex additional support needs.
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
Students from across the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership have been challenged to design a tartan and be in with a chance of winning a £1,500 cash prize. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has launched THE COMPETITION to mark 60 years since the regional development agency (then named Highlands and Islands Development Board) was established in November 1965.
Staff at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have commenced a series of strike actions beginning 30 October 2025, in protest at proposed job cuts and the use of compulsory redundancies. The walk-out is set for four days this month today 30 October and further dates on 5, 17 and 18 November.
Scotland's colleges face changing how they operate due to ongoing financial pressures. The sector has experienced a 20 per cent real terms cut in funding over the last five years.
Wick High School has updated it policy on mobiles phones for pupils whilst in school. An effective ban comes into force at the start of the new session on 19 August 2025.
Young people in the Highlands can call a dedicated helpline offering expert advice to anyone receiving their full Higher, National, and Advanced results on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The pupils and students- along with their parents and carers - will be able to get support with their results through Skills Development Scotland's (SDS) Results Helpline, which opens from 8am on results day.
Scottish universities and colleges are navigating a sustained decline in public funding, significant cost pressures, and rising operating deficits. Universities saw their collective underlying surplus tumble by 92% in 2023-24, while colleges face a real-terms funding cut of 17% since 2021-22.
Our updated policy on mobile phones has been finalised after a period of consultation with our parents/carers, pupils and staff. This policy will begin with the start of the new academic year, on Tuesday 19th August, and will essentially mean that mobile devices will be prohibited in the school building and grounds during the school day.