Fears for Plockton boatbuilding course as funding dries up

Funding for a boatbuilding course at Plockton High School has come to an end, leaving the future of the project in doubt.

 

The Am Bàta boatbuilding course, which has been running for more than 10 years, may come to an end once funding for the project from West Highland College (UHI) stops in May.

 

Science technician at Plockton High James Phimister explained that the lack of funding leaves them with 'no other option but to mothball' the course.

 

He said: 'We have taught more than 50 pupils the skills of traditional boatbuilding and have worked with West Highland College (UHI) for the past three years. We have formed partnerships with the local forestry commission, which has kindly donated all of the Achmore European larch we have required.

 

'We are putting out a request to local organisations to help fund us. The project needs £15,000 per year to continue offering this truly remarkable and unique course.'

 

Am-Bata is the only centre to run the course with SQA accreditation, meaning its pupils leave school with accreditation in traditional boatbuilding and repair, as well as gaining individual accreditation in the smaller units such as working with tools.

 

The project is a collaboration between Plockton High's technology department and Mark Stockl, a boatbuilder based in Ullapool.

 

This year's cohort of eight students are busy completing a 15ft inboard motor launch, a first for the course, for a client on Skye.

 

The students have also started the high profile restoration of The Lady’s Boat - a 180-year-old Norwegian rowing boat, to be displayed in the reception area of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye.

 

Head of technologies at the school Neil Jardine said: 'Our aim has always been, and continues to be, for pupils to build their entrepreneurial capacity, work through and deal with problems in collaboration with others, while developing strong employability skills.'

 

He continued: 'We are entering a new era for Am Bàta and, in the coming years, it is our wish to continue offering exceptional opportunities such as this to our students.

 

'The prospect of financially securing the future of the course for the next three to five years would enable us to plan ahead and make further improvements, ensuring the young people from our community have the best possible chances to follow their chosen career paths.'

 

The £15,000 needed to keep the course running will be primarily used to pay for the professional tuition Mark provides.