Council offers assurances over school's condition

Moray Council has insisted Buckie High School remains a safe environment for pupils and staff after photos were posted online appearing to show it in a poor condition.

The local authority said improvement work was ongoing and issues were being addressed.

Social media posts of the secondary in a state of disrepair have been uploaded in recent days, with one parent saying the picures were a "massive concern".

However, in a statement, council leader Kathleen Robertson said some of the damage shown was from storms in 2024, and that those specific issues were addressed at the time and had since been resolved.

Stephen Birtwistle has a son at the school - as well as a son and daughter who will be moving up soon.

He told BBC Scotland News: "Nobody wants to stress about their kids having to go into a school which is unsafe.

"From the look of the pictures and the stories I am being told it is a massive concern as a parent, you just do not want that phone call saying something has happened to your child.

"Our kids deserve better, it is not acceptable to have them at a school in that condition."

Parents have long campaigned for an improved school to be built in its place but Moray Council said "work towards a long-term solution" was ongoing.

Council leader Ms Robertson said: "We are aware of recent posts and photographs circulating online about the condition of Buckie High School and understand that parents, carers, and members of the community may feel concerned and upset by what they are seeing and reading online.

"While some current concerns have already been identified by both the council and the school, our maintenance teams are addressing them where appropriate.

"Any urgent matters are responded to as a priority."