Morgan Sindall Construction has officially broken ground on the new Broadford Primary School on the Isle of Skye. The milestone was celebrated with a turf-cutting ceremony attended by pupils, community representatives, and key stakeholders.

The £21 million development, delivered in partnership with The Highland Council, represents a major investment in sustainable educational infrastructure for South Skye. The project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), which focuses on creating low-carbon, digitally enabled learning environments.

Designed to the Passivhaus classic standard, the new campus will offer exceptional energy efficiency, aligning with The Highland Council’s commitment to environmentally responsible facilities. The development is scheduled for completion by summer 2027 and will serve as a community hub, featuring a primary school, nursery/sgoil àraich, a public library, a gym hall, and a council service point. A new floodlit, all-weather sports pitch will also be constructed to complement the school.

Ian MacDonald, Senior Operations Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, said: "We are pleased to be marking this important milestone for Broadford Primary School. Morgan Sindall Construction has a long-standing relationship with The Highland Council, and we look forward to commencing works on site this spring to deliver this new facility for the Broadford community. This project reflects our continued commitment to providing high-quality, modern educational infrastructure."

Cllr John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s education committee, added: "Today is a momentous day as we welcome the start of construction on a brand-new school in Broadford. It has taken a huge deal of energy, commitment and vision to get us to this stage, but the end result will be first class facilities for the school and wider community. A new school for Broadford has been a priority ambition of Highland Council, and now we are turning that vision into genuine progress. The new school shows the enormous value in partnership and co-operation when it comes to delivering lasting change. The Highland Council, Scottish Government, community groups and parents have all worked together on this vital development, which is now going to become a reality. I would like to thank the Skye community, stakeholders and council officers who have worked tirelessly with me and other members over a number of years to get to this stage. They should be so proud of their efforts. I will be looking forward to this school, and then projects in the Highland Investment Plan, including at Dunvegan in Skye, taking shape. As they do so, they give excitement and optimism to communities all across our vast, predominately rural, authority."

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Kate Forbes MSP also commented on the progress: "I am absolutely thrilled to see construction work officially begin in Broadford for the new primary school. I have fought for this day for many years. I share in the excitement pupils and teachers have, along with the wider community, for the school and the facilities it will bring to Broadford. The project has received funding from the Scottish Government, and I am pleased to see this investment being made to rural communities such as Broadford. I am most grateful to those involved in the stakeholder group which has been held over recent years to help reach this point."

Representing the Broadford Primary School Parent Council, Ronan Martin and Melissa MacLeod stated: "Broadford Primary School Parent Council is delighted to take part in the turf-cutting ceremony marking the start of construction on the new school building, signalling an exciting era for the school and wider community. Following a glowing Education Scotland inspection in 2025, the new campus marks a significant step forward for pupils in South Skye, bringing the school and community library together in a modern, Passive-style building with many new facilities, including a new pitch led by South Skye Community Campus.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education Jenny Gilruth noted: "The Broadford Primary School project is another clear example of the Scottish Government working with local authorities to provide modern, state-of-the-art learning environments – we are proud to support this project with a £5.8 million investment. The building has been designed to the Passivhaus standard and will include a brand-new all-weather sports pitch. Since 2007, the number of schools in ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ conditions has increased from 62.7 per cent to a record 92 per cent thanks to direct investment from the Scottish Government. In partnership with local authorities, we will continue to build on this progress even further through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme."