Buckie High School has been ‘shafted again’ by Moray Council as refurb plans look set to be ditched
A Moray secondary school could end up the “worst” in the region if proposed refurbishment plans are controversially shelved.
Moray Council’s education, children’s and leisure services committee meeting saw the shock revelation that previously promised, much-needed revamp work on the crumbling Buckie Community High School (BCHS) kicked indefinitely into the long grass.
The school had initially been in contention for funding from the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Phase 3 project, which would have seen a much-needed new school built. However, Forres Academy ended up getting the nod for the cash, with BCHS thought to be in line for a range of possible refurbishment options, including a partial rebuild.
However, a paper presented to the education committee on Tuesday, February 19 appeared to pour cold water on even these downscaled prospects. Councillors were told that due to the “significant reduction of capital” available to the local authority it was now the case that the “existing refurbishment options are not affordable”.
Buckie councillor Sonya Warren - herself a former education committee chair - blasted the move, saying that the school’s students and staff - as well as the wider local community - were being treated as “second class citizens” and had been “shafted again” by the council.
She continued: “Prior to the education committee meeting I did have a nagging doubt about the council’s commitment to the Buckie High refurbishment project.
“Every time I asked about it I was told it was still in the capital plan - for the moment. It made me think there was something wrong and I had a bad gut feeling about it.
“They’re now saying they can’t afford any of the options previously on the table.
“I know it’s hard financially at the moment and some cuts are unavoidable, but as far as I’m concerned Buckie kids are being treated as second class citizens. Other parts of Moray are getting school rebuilds or refurbishments so why should our pupils be left out and treated as second rate? There’s money available for other places, so why not here?
“To be blunt, despite all the promises Buckie has been shafted again.”
Councillor Warren went on to raise concerns for the future of BCHS if many ongoing, long-running concerns and issues regarding the condition of the school were not rapidly addressed.
She said: “I’m very worried for the future if we can’t do a proper job at Buckie High instead of continuing to make do and mend as has been the case for so long.
“There’re so many problems facing BCHS which haven’t been properly addressed for years. The school is plagued with leaks and there’re issues with capacity, suitability, connectivity and the overall condition of the buildings.
“The boiler at the school is running on TLC, it’s so old. We were previously promised funding for a refurb, but it’s never been done.
“We’re at the stage now where we’re reduced to fervently hoping every day that nothing serious goes wrong at the school which would see it closed over a longer time period. Where would our young people go to learn? Would it be a return to the days of Covid and learning from home?
“It has to be suitable for education in the 21st century, but how are our young people going to get any sort of equity if it looks like even a refurb is being kicked further and further down the road?
“The blunt truth is Buckie High is going to be the worst school in terms of condition in Moray before long if these problems are not properly addressed.
“I’ll be eagerly awaiting the final report from this on May 13 to see what they can do, but my hopes aren’t high, to say the least.”
With a review of the leisure estate on the horizon - which could see the future of the town’s swimming pool, situated near the high school, come under threat - Councillor Warren added that it “doesn’t feel good to be a Buckie councillor at the moment”.
A spokesperson for Moray Council said: “The council agreed to cut its capital budget within an affordability cap, as a result there’s £32.32 million less than previously planned in the three-year capital budget for the learning estate.
“Therefore, the council has had to reassess the existing plans, including for Buckie High School.
“No decision has been made yet on the way forward for Buckie High School. We’re looking at different options to make sure the school can be maintained to the required standards within the available budget. However, as reported at the ECLS Committee on February 18, a new build or significant refurbishment isn’t financially viable within the capital plan approved by the council, and so alternative affordable options must be considered.
“We’re reviewing lower-cost options, backed by additional feasibility works and investigations. A more detailed report, with a proposed way forward in terms of affordability is planned to be submitted to the ECLS Committee in May 2025 for its consideration. Any proposal will seek where possible to the meet the existing planned timescales for the Buckie High School project, which was originally targeted for completion by 2030.”
