A call has been made for a planned revamp of Inverness High School to be accelerated after a pupil was hurt by a falling glass window.
The secondary in the Dalneigh area was closed to S1, S2 and S3 pupils yesterday following the incident, and will remain closed to the same year groups today.
It is understood that a male S4 pupil was taken to Raigmore Hospital for treatment on Wednesday after cutting his foot on the glass which smashed when the window fell.
The Press and Journal has learned that incident was the second of its kind with the windows in the school this session and, although no pupils were hurt last time, the windows were checked for defects afterwards.
Education chiefs are now investigating and assessing all of the windows in the school again, and require many of the classrooms to be empty.
John Rutter, the school’s head teacher, said: “Following an incident at the school yesterday, a pupil was taken to Raigmore Hospital and received treatment at the accident and emergency unit.”
The Art Deco school building opened in 1937 following a design competition won by the Edinburgh firm of architects, Reid and Forbes, and it has been extended several times over the decades.
Until two years ago, the grade B listed building had the original steel windows.
However, new double glazed windows were installed to replicate the originals in 2014, and £10million has also been set aside by the council to carry out a complete refurbishment of the school between 2018 and 2019.
Local councillor Donnie Kerr believes the investment could not be made soon enough, however.
“I think this is now the second incident there has been in recent weeks. It’s too early to know what the problem is,” he said.
“I think the High School building, although it’s art deco and listed, is a building that requires some attention.
“I know there is a programme to do that, but it needs some investment. It’s an old school.”
The school remained open to S4, S5 and S6 yesterday, and will do so again today.
