Highland asked to support school closure moratorium

Highland Council has recommended that councillors agree to a year's delay to some plans to shut rural schools.

Education Secretary Mike Russell has requested local authorities support the year's moratorium.

A report to Highland's full council said the delay should not affect plans to change schooling in Caithness as the process was at an advanced stage.

However, officers said the moratorium would halt a similar review of school provision in Easter Ross.

In the report to next Thursday's council meeting, officers said the Easter Ross review was still at an early stage.

Proposals for Caithness include closing up to 11 primary schools, or amalgamating schools in Wick and Thurso leaving one school for each town.