Plans for a modern, inclusive 2–18 campus in Tobermory are set to resume following an agreement by Argyll and Bute Councillors. The project, which aims to provide long-term educational and community benefits for the island of Mull, had been paused since 2025 due to a judicial review.

In February 2026, the Court of Session found in favour of the Council, allowing work to restart. A revised timeline is now being established, with the new campus currently projected to open in late 2030. An outline business case is expected to be presented at a special council meeting this December.

The new campus is designed to support modern teaching approaches and accessibility. Economic assessments suggest that locating the facility in Tobermory, Mull's principal settlement, will deliver £3.1 million more in economic benefits compared to a central location. Currently, 84% of secondary-aged children on the island live within the existing Tobermory High School catchment area.

However, the delay caused by legal action has introduced significant financial risks. Construction and inflationary costs are estimated to be rising by between £100,000 and £120,000 every month. The project budget, originally set at £42.9 million in April 2024, is now forecast to reach £46.8 million. While an additional £7 million was allocated in February 2026, the final costs remain subject to change based on design evolution and external factors.

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Councillor Kieron Green, Policy Lead for Education, stated: "Our clear and continued commitment is to deliver a modern, fully accessible 2–18 campus that provides the best possible learning environment for children and young people on Mull, now and for generations to come. This project is about far more than a new building – it is about better educational outcomes, inclusive spaces and enhanced opportunities that reflect how young people learn today. The proposed 2-18 campus opens up new learning experiences and opportunities for our two hundred young learners, the majority who live near the preferred location."

Councillor Ross Moreland, Policy Lead for Finance, highlighted the affordability challenges ahead: "There is no escaping the fact that the judicial review and resulting pause have had a real financial impact on this project, at a time when the council is facing intense and competing pressures across all services. In 2024, the Council's Section 95 Officer reported that additional delays and rising costs are recognised as some of the most significant risks to delivering a new campus. Nothing has changed in that respect, and both have a huge impact on affordability. Every delay brings continued financial risk, with construction and inflationary costs rising by the sum of between £100 – 120,000 month by month."

Councillor Moreland added: "The delay and additional costs may also risk Scottish Government funding conditions which are based on opening the campus in December 2027. There is no confirmation of any additional LEIP funding. The facts remain, councillors will still need to consider whether this level of cost pressure is affordable or not. To pay for a new school, there will be difficult decisions ahead. This could involve a minimum additional 2% increase to Council Tax or removing or reducing services such as libraries, toilets or roads maintenance. That's the reality of the future budget outlook with the additional cost that a new school brings. Despite these challenges, our focus is on completing the next stage of the process so that councillors can consider a robust, well‑evidenced business case and make informed decisions about the future, fully aware of both the opportunities and the financial implications involved."