A population boom has left the newest primary school in Inverness facing an overcrowding crisis.
The Milton of Leys building only opened four years ago and has already been extended.
And a further expansion is on the cards as its roll continues to rocket and council chiefs launch a wide-ranging review of primaries across the city.
The school’s general purpose rooms have been commandeered as classrooms and the library now houses two P1 classes. Shelves of books have been moved into a corridor.
Parents have already complained about children having to change for PE in classrooms.
And with so many pupils to serve at lunchtime, some youngsters are missing out on their break because they have to wait so long.
Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said last night he believed that at least another five or six classrooms could be needed.
But he also suggested a new school would be needed because of the number of housing developments in the pipeline.
Councillor Gowans said: “We are doing all this development without the infrastructure. Existing infrastructure cannot cope.”
Milton of Leys school opened in 2011 with the aim of easing overcrowding at Inshes Primary.
However, a £650,000, three-classroom extension has already been built to deal with the ever-expanding roll.
Mr Gowans added that he had fought for four classrooms to be provided but was told it was not needed.
He said that with more than 380 pupils this year, the school was now the second-largest primary in the Highlands. There are also 109 children in the nursery.
Mr Gowans fears that temporary buildings may have to be used.
He said: “I think it is unfortunate. I cannot fathom why I was given a categorical assurance that we would not need to have three classrooms.
“The roll predictions are going through the roof. Capping is imminent.”
A report to the education committee in May revealed that three schools have their rolls capped because of pressure of numbers – Cradlehall, Inshes and Lochardil.
It is understood that some of the pressure on Milton of Leys has come from this.
The council’s education chairman Councillor Drew Millar blamed the rapid growth of Inverness.
He said: “It has taken everyone by surprise. Normally roll predictions are very accurate.”
He added: “This is
something that we are looking at and there is a review ongoing on the Inverness school situation.”
Head teacher Robert Quigley said: “We have been able to achieve smaller sized classes, which are having an excellent impact on behaviour, learning and teaching across the school.
“We have been able to upgrade the former library to create a good teaching space for P1s.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Where necessary, the council makes use of general purpose space within schools as teaching space, to address short to medium term capacity pressures.
“That is the case within Milton of Leys as in some other Highland schools. The position is being managed, and supported by the head teacher.
“Recognising capacity pressures across a number of Inverness Schools, the council has committed £48million within its capital programme, with proposals currently being worked up in relation to how that funding can best be allocated.”