Mr Stone is seeking a ruling from the QC on whether the school has a case in terms of basic human rights.

The parent council has condemned the dilapidated school as unfit for 21st-century education and is fighting for a replacement.

In his letter, Mr Stone brought Lord Boyd of Duncansby up to date with the school's battle for a better deal for pupils and staff and included a recent copy of the John O'Groat Journal. Mr Stone told Lord Boyd it highlighted "the shocking physical condition of your old school".

The Lib Dem MSP added: "It is presently the worst in my constituency and, in all my time as an MSP and a member of the Highland Council before that, I have never seen anything quite as bad."

Mr Stone said that the pupils and staff were doing their best despite the very poor conditions with which they had to contend.

"Compared to the staff and pupils in other schools in the Highlands and Scotland, this seems unfair and wrong," said Mr Stone, who continued: "The fact that these working conditions may be standing in the way of youngsters achieving their maximum academic potential is a very worrying thought."

Mr Stone invited Lord Boyd to consider whether the school had a case in terms of basic human rights and suggested that his new role may give him greater freedom to comment than when he was part of the Scottish Executive as Lord Advocate.

The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MSP added: "I hope that you will not mind me approaching you in this manner, but the Wick High School problem is a bad one and I am determined to explore every avenue in tackling it."

Mr Stone, who raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament last month, is awaiting a reply from First Minister Alex Salmond to an invitation to visit the school and see at first hand the extent to which it has deteriorated.

Mr Stone has also called on HM Inspectorate of Education to carry out an inspection of the school as a matter of urgency.

The parent council launched an online petition which, up until yesterday, had attracted 437 signatures.

The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council also threw its weight behind the campaign after seeing copies of the parent council's presentation. It listed a depressing catalogue of defects in the school.

Meanwhile, parent council members will get a chance to state their case to Highland Council officials face-to-face.

The campaigners will give an audiovisual presentation to Hugh Fraser, the director of education, culture and sport, and two of his staff at one of the regular ward business meetings in Wick within the next few weeks.

The meeting has been arranged by local councillor Bill Fernie, who is supporting the campaign. He said that having the meeting in Wick – a date has yet to be fixed – would save everyone concerned having to travel to Inverness, and at the same time give all the Caithness councillors a chance to participate in the discussion.

Mr Fernie, who chairs the education, culture and sport committee, also intends to take the officials on a tour of the school afterwards.

He has pledged to do his best to get both Wick High and Thurso High further up the programme for upgrading.

Wick is in line for a £1 million refurbishment in three years' time but Mr Fernie said this would not satisfy the parent council, which wanted more immediate action in the form of a new school.

"Personally, I would not like to rule out anything," said Mr Fernie. He stressed, however, that finance was the crucial factor and pointed out that the Highland Council had 240 schools to consider.

Colin Boyd was appointed to the House of Lords in June last year and took the title The Right Honourable The Lord Boyd of Duncansby as he had spent much of his childhood in Caithness. He said he wanted to reflect his fondness for the county and his happy memories, particularly of family outings and walks at Duncansby Head.

At the time of his new appointment, he said he looked forward to playing an effective role in policy-making in the UK, especially in relation to Scottish affairs.

n.donaldson@nosn.co.uk

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