Pleas for the school to be replaced have been dismissed.

 

A SCOTS school identified as a high concern for development 15 years ago, is now filled with mould, roof-leaks and crumbling ceilings.

Castlebay Community School in Barra was opened by King Charles and Princess Diana in 1985 on a royal visit.

Water damage in a school classroom.

Crumbling walls and mould can be seen in pictures of the schoolCredit: Supplied

Castlebay School, Barra.

Castlebay Community School opened in 1985Credit: Les Gallagher – The Sun Glasgow

Buckets catching water leaks in a school hallway.

Buckets in the school corridors due to roof-leaksCredit: Supplied
Local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar prioritised the school for redevelopment in 2010, reports the BBC, but the project has been delayed.

Chairwoman of the parent council and former pupil, Marion MacNeil, told the BBC: “Our school has been deteriorating all these years.”

The school had to use buckets to deal with holes in the ceiling and water leaks during wet weather this winter, relocating pupils and staff to a “dilapidating building”, also not fit for purpose.

Some classrooms have such little heating, that children and staff have had to wear jackets inside.

MacNeil adds that these conditions have had “huge negative impacts on our pupils, our teachers and our overall community”.

She added: “Naturally, it affects your academic performance.”

Castlebay Community School holds children aged 3-18, holding around 250 pupils currently.

Science teacher Heidi describes the school as having a “community, family feel”, having only 92 students in the secondary school as of last year.

Despite being identified as high priority, the school has been unable to secure the required funding

The BBC reports that only last week cables were visible in a science classroom due to missing tiles.
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Only one classroom was found without issues.

The Comhairle has suggested building a replacement school, alongside leisure facilities housing, a hospital and a police station as part of the Barra and Vatersay Campus Project.

The islands’ SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan has hoped the Comhairle and Scottish government could work together to secure a new school for Barra.

A spokesperson from Scottish government said they are “absolutely committed” to funding the school, adding that  “Ministers understand the frustrations  at the delays”

MacNeil added “This is not an environment that young people should be educated in.”