Portree High School (

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

: ') is a state co-educational

comprehensive school A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is res ...

in Portree,

Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...

in Scotland. , the school enrols 490 pupils and employs 80 teachers and support staff. The school's catchment area draws from 15 primary schools across Skye and neighbouring Raasay. The school also has a hostel with boarding provisions for a small number of pupils who live in more remote areas of the island.

History

A school has existed at Portree since the 17th century. However it closed in 1825 due to the difficulty in finding a new qualified schoolmaster. Construction on the Portree High School buildings began in 1872. In 1905 it became a Higher Grade school. Margaret Carnegie Hostel for girls being opened in 1924, followed in 1933 by the Elgin Hostel for boys. Elgin Hostel is now a Category B listed building. Until late 2008, the school consisted of three buildings - the main building, the Elgin Hostel and the Technical Block, along with about a dozen demountable classrooms. In 2008, this arrangement was replaced by a new building, constructed by Morrison Construction as part of a regional PPP scheme to build eleven schools in the Highlands. The demountable classrooms were then removed, and the main building and Technical Block demolished.

Curriculum

The school's curriculum includes provision for

Gaelic medium education Gaelic-medium education (G.M.E. or GME; gd, Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig) is a form of education in Scotland that allows pupils to be taught primarily through the medium of Scottish Gaelic, with English being taught as the secondary langua ...

. Students take a range of curricular subjects in the Broad General Education (S1-S3) and a wide range of subjects at N4/5, Higher and AH level. The school works in partnership with the West Highland College and Sabhal Mor Ostaig to offer a wide range of vocational subjects and Foundation Apprenticeships. The new school was built in 2008, and officially opened in 2010. The current Head Teacher, Tony Breen, was appointed in 2021.

Notable alumni

* Sir Russell Johnston (1932–2008), Liberal Democrat politician, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Party 1974–1988 *

Hector MacKenzie, Baron MacKenzie of Culkein Hector Uisdean MacKenzie, Baron MacKenzie of Culkein (born 25 February 1940) is a Scottish nurse and former trade union official. The son of George MacKenzie and Williamina Sutherland was educated on the Isle of Erraid Public School, in Argyll ...

(born 1940), nurse and trades unionist * Sorley Maclean, Scottish Gaelic poet and Nobel Prize nominee * Roderick John MacLeod, Lord Minginish (born 1953), known as Roddy John, Chairman of the Scottish Land Court since 2014

References

External links

* {{authority control Buildings and structures in the Isle of Skye Category B listed buildings in Highland (council area) Listed schools in Scotland Secondary schools in Highland (council area) Scottish Gaelic-language secondary schools 1872 establishments in Scotland Educational institutions established in 1872 Portree

History

Curriculum

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links