At the ceremony on Friday, school pupils were joined by MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Kate Forbes and Skye councillor and chair of Highland Council’s education committee John Finlayson, along with representatives from contractors Morgan Sindall Construction, Highland Council and several key community organisations.

The development is one of three Highland Council projects included in the Scottish Government‘s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), which focuses on delivering high quality, suitable, sustainable, low carbon, and digitally enabled learning environments.

The building has been designed to the Passivhaus classic standard to ensure that the funding outcomes required for the LEIP revenue funding will be achieved.

The Broadford development will cost £21 million and will include a nursery/sgoil àraich, gym hall, public library and council service point.

A community project to build a brand-new, all-weather, floodlit sports pitch will complement the school’s facilities.

The primary school build is scheduled for completion by summer 2027.

Cllr John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s education committee, said: “Today is a momentous day as we welcome the start of construction on a brand-new school in Broadford.

“It has taken a huge deal of energy, commitment and vision to get us to this stage, but the end result will be first class facilities for the school and wider community.

“A new school for Broadford has been a priority ambition of Highland Council, and now we are turning that vision into genuine progress.

“The new school shows the enormous value in partnership and co-operation when it comes to delivering lasting change. The Highland Council, Scottish Government, community groups and parents have all worked together on this vital development, which is now going to become a reality. 

“I would like to thank the Skye community, stakeholders and council officers who have worked tirelessly with me and other members over a number of years to get to this stage. They should be so proud of their efforts.

“I will be looking forward to this school, and then projects in the Highland Investment Plan, including at Dunvegan in Skye, taking shape. As they do so, they give excitement and optimism to communities all across our vast, predominately rural, authority.”

Kate Forbes MSP said: “I am absolutely thrilled to see construction work officially begin in Broadford for the new primary school. I have fought for this day for many years.

“I share in the excitement pupils and teachers have, along with the wider community, for the school and the facilities it will bring to Broadford. The project has received funding from the Scottish Government, and I am pleased to see this investment being made to rural communities such as Broadford.

“I am most grateful to those involved in the stakeholder group which has been held over recent years to help reach this point.”

Ian MacDonald, senior operations manager at Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, added: “We are pleased to be marking this important milestone for Broadford Primary School. Morgan Sindall Construction has a long-standing relationship with The Highland Council, and we look forward to commencing works on site this spring to deliver this new facility for the Broadford community.

“This project reflects our continued commitment to providing high-quality, modern educational infrastructure.”