New £72m Tain School and Community Campus Opening
Pupils will start relocating to Tain's new £72 million school and community campus from next month. The campus is designed to unite four schools and provide education for children aged three to 18 years.
Each school will maintain its own identity within the campus while sharing some learning environments and facilities.
Contractor Kier Group has officially handed over the complex to Highland Council.
The new campus will replace Tain Royal Academy, Craighill and Knockbreck primaries, as well as St Duthus School, a special school. All these existing sites have been assessed as no longer fit for purpose.
Phased Move-In Schedule
Primary-aged pupils are scheduled to move into the new school on 22 April, with secondary school students joining in June.
John Finlayson, chairman of Highland Council's education committee, said completion of the school marked an "important milestone" for Tain.
Finlayson added: "I am confident this new community campus will support a high-quality learning environment, flourishing Gaelic medium provision, and wider opportunities for collaboration between the three schools and the wider community for years to come."
School Mergers and Identity
Within the new campus, Craighill and Knockbreck schools will merge to form the newly named Tain Primary School. Despite this merger, Highland Council has emphasized that each school will retain its own identity within the campus, with some shared facilities.
Innovative Design and Facilities
The community campus is the first school in the Highland region to achieve Passivhaus certification, recognized for its high levels of insulation and advanced ventilation system.
The site includes sports pitches, a gymnasium, a hall, and a dedicated dance and drama studio, providing extensive resources for students and the community.
