Councillor's column - Sarah Fanet: It's time to unlock the potential of Duror Primary School

Where we are now is exciting because this is not just about the school remaining open and doing business as usual.

It is also about Duror Primary School and its huge potential that can be transformative for the community and bring opportunities to children around Lochaber and beyond.

As mentioned in Duror’s Local Place plan, access to childcare is key to the success of the community and, over the last 12 months, the school has been offering a weekly Stay & Play session which I have had the pleasure of attending twice to see for myself.

This needs to grow and I have already been in conversation with other groups in the Highlands and Highland Council to explore how bureaucratic and legislative obstacles could be overcome.

More toddlers in the school will mean more pupils on the roll in the years to come. Good publicity will attract young families into the area, particularly as fast broadband is now available in the village and working from home is an attractive and growing option for families once unable to choose the Highlands as their home.

Those families must know there is a school and childcare available in the community. One must also note the impact of such a playgroup on parents’ well-being.

A mother said to me during my last visit that the playgroup was her only opportunity to see someone during the day.

Finally, there is a major point that has not been mentioned enough, and I would like to thank Councillor John Grafton for supporting me in my efforts to highlight it.

The school has massive potential to become a marine and coastal outdoor education hub, probably the first one in Scotland, as part of the STEM initiative spreading across Scotland.

This is part of a wider Scottish Government strategy bringing new relationships with schools to provide hands-on activities and inspire future scientists in rural schools.

I have asked Highland Council to engage as soon as possible with Duror and Kentallen-based conservation group MACCOLL (Marine and Coastal Conservation of Loch Linnhe) and The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

Work at Duror Primary in partnership with SAMS has already started with a flapper skate project.

The school, whose location is unique because of its access to the shore, could be a marine and coastal education hub benefiting other schools in Lochaber and beyond, widening the curriculum and bringing more opportunities.

It would be the first one in Scotland. The work must start now, and I have asked Highland Council to engage with the key stakeholders mentioned above to discuss what this transformative rural school model will look like and how it could be exported to other parts of the Highlands.

These are exciting times.

Let’s unlock the massive potential of this very special school located on the shore of Loch Linnhe.