The parent council, which is fighting for a school fit for 21st-century education, is to invite the scholars to take part in three competitions – song and poem contests to highlight the state of the school, and an art section to portray the kind of new school that is needed.

The competition strategy, approved by the pupil council, is the latest move in the battle to try to get action over the dilapidated state of Wick High.

The parent council's vice-chairwoman, Julie Mackinnon, said that as the pupils were very much at the centre of the issue it was appropriate they should be involved. She added that it was felt that the competitions would be an excellent vehicle to get the message across.

Details have yet to be finalised as the competitions will not be launched until after the school exams are over in May. However, the winning song will be recorded by one of the school's talented bands and already the BBC has expressed an interest in covering the story. Publishing a selection of the pictures and poems is also under consideration.

The council launched its campaign in March with an audiovisual presentation and a tour of the buildings highlighting the depressing catalogue of defects inside and out which has led to it being branded a "dump".

The cause is being championed by Far North MSP Jamie Stone, who yesterday pressed the finance secretary John Swinney on possible funding for the school.

Mr Stone previously invited First Minister Alex Salmond to come and see for himself the "shocking physical state" of the buildings. He has also asked "old boy" Colin Boyd, previously Lord Advocate and now Lord Boyd of Duncansby, for a legal ruling as to whether the human rights of those who use the school are being breached.

An online petition is continuing to gather support and it stood at 627 signatures yesterday.

Mr Stone has received a positive response from HM Inspectorate of Education in reply to his request that its carries out an inspection of the school as a matter of urgency. HMI's chief inspector, Frank Crawford, said that they did not advertise their inspections in advance but had recently postponed a planned inspection of Wick High because of the sudden death of one of the pupils.

Mr Crawford added: "The school and the education authority are thus anticipating an HMIE inspection in the not-too-distant future."

As far as the timing of inspections was concerned, he said that the department's locally-based district inspectors kept the planned programme of inspections under constant review and used local intelligence to bring them forward or delay them in "a flexible and responsive manner".

Mr Stone said he was encouraged by the tone of the inspectorate's letter. "There is a clear inference in it that local information, or changes in local circumstances, can trigger an early 'rapid response' school inspection," he said. "This is to be welcomed and will lead us all to conclude that, following the recent publicity regarding the very poor physical state of the school, there is now every chance we can expect an inspection soon."

The MSP continued: "While I accept that HMI reports do not absolutely dictate an education authority's spending programme and priorities, I know from my own experience as a former member of Highland Council's education committee that these reports, particularly those flagging up areas in need of urgent action, are highly influential when it comes to the council's financial decision-making."

Members of the public have been invited to join parents for a presentation by Sabine Richards and a tour of the school on Tuesday at 7pm. Mrs Mackinnon says it is hoped at that time to form an action committee to take over responsibility for the campaign.

She said: "It's a big undertaking and one which requires a specific body to concentrate on driving the campaign forward. Equally important, it will allow the parent council to return to its usual role. We are also looking for a catchy acronym for our action committee, so get your thinking caps on."

She added: "Support for the campaign is vital and we will be appealing for volunteers on Tuesday night to help with fundraising. Those with special skills will also be welcome."

Mr Stone made his bid for school funds during question time at the Scottish Parliament yesterday afternoon.

The MSP quizzed Mr Swinney about the possibility of the Scottish Government making additional cash available to the Highland Council to help in delivering education services.

Mr Swinney said that the authority would receive £510.4 million in core revenue funding in 2008/09. He continued: "That represents an increase of 4.82 per cent compared to a Scottish average of 4.55 per cent. Under the terms of the concordat with local government, it is for the Highland Council to allocate the resources at its disposal in the light of local requirements."

Mr Stone replied that he had put the question with the poor state of Wick High School in the forefront of his mind, and pointed out that the Highland Council's chairman of education, culture and sport, Wick councillor Bill Fernie, had made it clear that it would not be possible for the school to be improved under the present funding settlement.

Mr Stone appealed for Government budget underspend to be channelled to the Highland Council.

Mr Swinney replied that such an opportunity was not available within the Government's financial settlement and the limitations that went with it, and stressed that the refurbishment or reconstruction proposals for Wick High were a matter for the Highland Council.

Undeterred, Mr Stone told the John O'Groat Journal that he would be pursuing the underspend as a possible source of funding through correspondence with the cabinet secretary.

Another potential source – prudential borrowing by the Highland Council – was flagged up by North SNP MSP Rob Gibson. He was talking after the education, lifelong learning and culture committee, which he chairs, took evidence from North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Moray councils on funding packages for school refurbishment and replacement.

Mr Gibson said: "It became clear that those councils had used prudential borrowing, which relies on the local authority raising money backed by a small capital fund, as a way of repairing public buildings, including schools. It is unlikely that the Highland Council will have the capital to fund a new build at Wick, therefore they must tackle the underlying problems of neglect to make the school wind and watertight."

Three Highlands and Islands Labour MSPs are due to visit Wick High School today to see for themselves the sorry state of the buildings.

Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart have declared themselves solidly behind the campaign.

n.donaldson@nosn.co.uk

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