Why does it cost so much to educate pupils at this Highland school?

Mystery surrounds the rocketing cost of educating pupils at a Highland school.

It has emerged that Kilchuimen Academy’s £9,904 per pupil cost in 2014-15 soared 38% last year to £13,625.

The figures featured in a report to Highland Council’s city committee by area care and learning manager Don Esson.

Asked by Labour group leader Jimmy Gray how the increase came about, Mr Esson said: “I’m not aware. We can look at that and get back to you.”

The school operates as a three-to-18 campus, with 56 pupils at Kilchuimen Primary and 46 at the academy.

The cost of educating the primary pupils rose that year from £2,297 to £2,608.

In terms of literacy and numeracy achievement, the academy is largely above the level of that of comparative schools in other local authority areas.