Thurso and Wick high schools show dramatic drop in predicted pupil rolls
Within 15 years Caithness will have about the same number of pupils in secondary education as just one school in Inverness, according to new statistics released by Highland Council.
The figures, that portray a dire outlook for depopulation in the county, show that, by 2038, Wick and Thurso High Schools are set to lose between 17 and 25 per cent of their total number of pupils.
One far north councillor said the projections, published by Highland Council this month, “all add up, piece by piece, to Highland Clearances 2024.”
Thurso High School’s roll is expected to decline from 751 pupils, which is a current capacity of 71 per cent, to just 579 – that is just over half its total capacity at 54 per cent.
Wick High School is sitting at around 100 per cent capacity today but a predicted drop from 766 to just 581 pupils will see the school roll fall to just 76 per cent.
Between the two schools, that equates to just 1160 pupils in secondary education in the entire county by 2038 – by comparison, Culloden Academy alone will have a school roll of 1027.
School rolls are clearly linked to depopulation – the fewer people, the fewer school children – but they are also linked to the availability of services and funding which always follow demand and population.
And that sparked the serious concerns of Matthew Reiss, who sees a lack of significant progress in tackling what is fast becoming an economically existential problem for the county.
The Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor said that the figures will “probably not come as a huge surprise to many people” and mirror a “loss of optimism and confidence” in the far north.
“It’s a complex thing but the Scottish Government could carry out a few basic improvements,” he said. “These include minor upgrades to the A9 north of Tain, rolling out the many years delayed R100 superfast broadband programme and bringing back consultants at Caithness General Hospital for maternity.
“In Orkney, 90 per cent of mothers can give birth on the island whereas in Caithness [around] 95 per cent are giving birth at Raigmore.
“A few months ago the Scottish Government brought out an action plan to address depopulation and one key recommendation was to stop using the word ‘remote’, as in ‘remote and rural areas’.
“The fund was backed up by £180,000 to be spent over three years by three local authorities, and I felt that sum of money indicated the government’s complete lack of any serious intent to try and improve the situation.”
Cllr Reiss went on to say it was “ironic” that the ministerial post connected to that plan has since been deleted – Highland MSP Emma Roddick was the migration minister until John Swinney became First Minister.
He also thinks that the issue of depopulation is not being helped by Highland Council removing essential services such as Avonlea children’s home and overnight respite services at Thor House in Thurso.
“There’s a list of other examples such as tourist information offices and we used to have Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise but now have HIE [Highlands and Islands Enterprise]. Wherever you look, banks are pulling out and in Sutherland the post office has pulled out from delivering prescriptions and similar to remote areas.
“It all adds up, piece by piece, to Highland Clearances 2024.”
But some in the Caithness business community sounded a more optimistic note, despite one local campaigner referencing a “21st-century Caithness Clearance” in a recent report.
Simon Middlemas, the independent chair of business partnership Focus North, said: “Focus North is optimistic about the future of our region due to a huge number of opportunities developing.
“We acknowledge the need to increase our population and our skilled workforce, and we have therefore established a dedicated working group to look at progressing a number of activities.
“Focus North in partnership with Caithness Chamber of Commerce, have appointed a dedicated recruitment specialist for Recruit North Highlands. This role will be focused on supporting families and individuals looking to relocate to the area and find work.”
