Highland Councillors have agreed a twin-track approach to achieving their 21^st Century School Improvement Programme. Members of the Education Culture and Sport Committee agreed to fund 11 new schools by a second Public Private Partnership Programme at a cost of £80 million and a further 13 projects via the more traditional Section 94 Capital funding route and the possible creation of a new School Improvement Trust.

The 11 schools earmarked for inclusion in PPP2 involve three secondary schools at Dingwall Academy; Millburn Academy, Inverness; and Portree High School as well as primary schools at Cawdor; Culbokie; Cullicudden (amalgamated with Newhall); a new Gaelic primary school in Inverness; Inverness Special Educational Needs School and a new primary school to be built at Inshes. The two other projects are a new primary and secondary school at Kinlochleven and a new hostel at Mallaig High School.

It is intended that these projects would be built between 2005 and 2009. The 13 projects to be built by Section 94 consents and the proposed new trust comprise a new primary/secondary school at Farr as well as new primary schools at: - Acharacle; Bower; Cromarty; Deshar; Greater Fort William Gaelic Primary School; Lochaline; Maryburgh; Newmore; Plockton; Roybridge; Uig.

Committee Chairman Councillor Andy Anderson said: "We are delighted that we have identified a twin track approach to achieving the 21^st Century Improvement Programme we identified earlier in the year. The big secondary school projects will be featured in the PPP 2, taking advantage of the grant on offer from the Scottish Executive. Once this contract is confirmed, probably in 2004, we will then have a better idea of the timing for the Section 94/trust-funded projects, which tend to be smaller but equally important for their communities. This is a big leap of faith by members to carry forward this exciting programme of improvements in our schools."

He said the Council would continue to closely involve communities in the process.

The Council recently opened four news schools, funded under the first Education Public Private Partnership. Secondaries opened at Ardnamurchan and Glen Urquhart and primary schools at Spean Bridge and Strathdearn.