Demand for new Wick school
pupils being treated like second-class citizens
Published:
WICK High pupils are being treated like second-class citizens because of the state of the buildings they are being taught in, it was claimed yesterday.
The school’s parent council believes the condition of the 850-pupil secondary is so bad that it is now past repair or refurbishment.
They are making a pitch to First Minister via local MSP Jamie Stone to secure emergency funding for a replacement.
Council chairman Iain Baikie yesterday said feelings are running very high on the issue among parents, staff and pupils.
The case for a rebuild was set out at a presentation made to local councillors, council officials and Mr Stone at the school on Monday evening. Beforehand, the guests being shown round the worst areas of the school by rector Alister Traill.
Mr Baikie said yesterday: “What we have is a building, parts of which date to the Victorian era. Action is long overdue to significantly improve conditions for the pupils and the staff.
“We’re looking at issues such as leaks in the walls and in pipes; cracked and cut tiles; asbestos problems; and a heating system that doesn’t work properly.”
He added: “The cost of keeping the school going is enormous, as is the disruption caused during the work. We can’t see the problems being solved by a major refurbishment – they are too big and wide-ranging for that. We see the only real answer is a replacement.”
Wick High was on Highland Council’s original list of over 40 schools on its list for major works under its public private partnership funding method, but it was not included in the final 11.
Mr Baikie said: “It’s very disillusioning for pupils who really are being treated like second-class citizens. Members of staff have also told me they are appalled by some of the areas they are having to teach in, which haven’t been refurbished for decades.”
Mr Stone has dubbed Wick High the worst school in his constituency and he promised to invite First Minister Alex Salmond to come to see for himself the problems at the school.
Highland Labour MSP Peter Peacock is also planning to raise the issue at Holyrood later this week.
Graham Nichols, the council’s area education, culture and sport director, said that Wick High is on the authority’s capital programme for secondary school refurbishments.The highest priority is Thurso High, followed by Nairn Academy’s unit for pupils with special education needs. Joint third were Plockton High and Nairn Academy, with Wick High next on the programme.
