Inverness is in line for a new £34million secondary school to replace ageing premises branded “slum-like”.
Highland councillors gave the green light to plans for a new Inverness Royal Academy yesterday which would be able to take 1,400 pupils, making it the largest school in the region.
The new school will be built on the existing blaes sports pitch, replacing the overcrowded existing building which will be torn down and used for two all-weather, floodlit outdoor pitches.
The four-storey development will have more classrooms, accommodation for pupils with additional support needs, two games halls, a 300-seat theatre, an outdoor classroom and a garden. Council planners expect a huge jump in the school roll from last year’s total of 936 due to housing developments in the area and the number of Gaelic-medium pupils joining the school.
The new school would have space for 1,474 students, including six classrooms dedicated to Gaelic-medium teaching to help cope with the influx.
Council planner Jim Harbison urged members of the council’s south planning applications committee to approve the plans saying it would create a “new school with a lot of good community facilities”.
Inverness Ness-side councillor Fraser Parr said: “I welcome this development although I’m slightly disappointed about it having a flat roof. I do think the social areas within the school will have real impact. The loss of the blaes pitch isn’t going to be a loss at all because it isn’t used. I would like to see this getting started as soon as possible.”
Inverness South councillor Thomas Prag said it was a “disappointing design” due to restricted space and it would not be a “landmark school” but said he supported the development.
Inverness Ness-side councillor Jean Slater said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for the school. The community facilities are fantastic.”
Former Highland councillor David Henderson, who is a former pupil of the school, previously likened long-standing temporary classrooms at Inverness Royal Academy to a “slum”.
The new school is expected to open in August 2016.