Moray Council has agreed to progress the opening stage of the Future Buckie High School project, confirming that work will start with the refurbishment of the ASN and canteen building to address rising demand and enhance facilities.

This first phase includes refurbishing the ASN and canteen block and relocating the dining and kitchen facilities, responding to the growing need for more ASN places.

The Council will now ask the Scottish Government to approve the transfer of Learning Estate Investment Programme Phase 2 funding from the Elgin High School project, which is no longer required, to support the works at Buckie High School.

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Design and planning will continue for subsequent phases, including options for longer-term refurbishment and potential new-build elements. However, decisions on major investment for later stages remain on hold until there is greater certainty around future Scottish Government learning estate funding.

Further updates will be provided once the next round of Scottish Government learning estate funding is confirmed, with community engagement also taking place at that point.

Chair of Moray Council's Education, Children's and Leisure Services committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: "We know how important Buckie High School is to pupils, families, staff and the wider community. While we'd all like to see the full long-term vision delivered as quickly as possible, the reality is that the wider project is not affordable within the Council's current capital plan.

"That's why we're taking a sustainable, phased approach. By starting with the ASN and canteen building, we can make progress with the highest identified need, improve facilities for pupils and staff and keep working towards the wider improvements we all want to see for Buckie High School."