Committee members meeting in Inverness tomorrow (Thursday) will be asked to agree the estimated £3000 spend on the analysis of three possible schemes: a new school on the existing site with limited community facilities; a new school on a different site with limited community facilities; or, a new school on a different site with extended community facilities such as a library or assembly rooms.

If approved, it is planned to have the analysis completed for consideration by the ECS committee in May.

Local Highland councillor Bill Fernie, chairman of the education, culture and sport committee, said the analysis would give the local authority the opportunity to look at what else it might be able to do at the same time as carrying out the work and how it might be able to save costs by combining community assets or working on facilities that the town needed.

However, Mr Fernie stressed there was still a very long way to go with the school proposal.

"There are 14 schools to be built in Scotland by 2016. We do not yet know when the Scottish Government is going to make the announcement, or in which order.

"Then there is planning permission for the selected site," he explained.

Mr Fernie said he remained optimistic after holding a positive meeting with education minister Michael Russell on Monday.

In qualitative assessments, a new build on Wick High's playing fields came out ahead of a new build on Bignold Park. Redevelopment of the existing site scored least, due to concerns over the likely disruption to the school and the compromises required by the restrictions of the site.

Preliminary costings put the estimated budgets at £32 million for a new build on Bignold Park, £31.8m for a school on the existing playing fields and £29.5m for redevelopment of the existing Wick High School property.

The new builds were based on a two-year construction programme, with a three-year period for the redevelopment option.

The report acknowledged that the condition of the existing school "remains a major concern, and that Highland Council will have to continue to invest in it in order to maintain a safe educational environment until a new fit-for-purpose school comes on stream".

Wick High School was originally completed in 1911. Many of the buildings now fall short of required standards in areas such as access and energy efficiency.

It was this week 50 years ago that the John O'Groat Journal reported unanimous approval from the Caithness education committee of an extension at the school.

The cost of £382,627 was seen as expensive - but necessary - for improving the facility.

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