An MSP has claimed that some female pupils are refusing to use showers at a north school due to “awful” damp and mould.
Kate Forbes said she had heard the reports from “worried constituents” who are increasingly concerned about the state of parts of Fortrose Academy.
The Press and Journal reported last month that the secondary’s parent council had demanded that Highland Council take urgent action to fix “appalling” disrepair at the Black Isle school.
Local MSP Ms Forbes, who will visit the school on March 3, has now written to the local authority with five specific action points for improvement.
They focus on the windows in the modern languages and guidance departments, the hall floor, the asbestos in the canteen roof, damp and mould in the girls’ shower block, as well as in the administration office.
She said: “I have received continued correspondence from worried constituents, who are rightly concerned about the welfare of their children attending the school.
“Highland Council have been given five specific action points which I believe require urgent attention.
“I have been told that some of the female pupils refuse to use the showers because the damp and mould are so awful.
“It is bad enough for their own pupils, but the facilities are also used by visiting teams playing Fortrose Academy in sporting competitions.
“When some of these other school teams proudly boast brand new facilities fit for the 21st century, they must wonder what on earth they have come to when they see the changing rooms in Fortrose.”
A £5.4million extension opened at Fortrose in 2002, but some blocks have changed little since they were built in the 1960s.
The refurbishment and replacement of the older blocks was listed by the council among its “highest priority” projects last year.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council has prepared a business case seeking additional capital funding for Fortrose, and it is expected this will be considered by the council later this year.
“In the interim, the council is undertaking further review of kitchen and dining facilities to consider any further priority actions required, and has offered to meet again with the parent council to discuss the review.”
