“Public views have been key in reaching the stage we are now at in bringing multi-million pound investment in education services for Mull. At £43 million the campus is the council’s largest single investment. We are making this in what is one of the most challenging financial periods facing ɬ services.
We would like to thank everyone who has got involved in the process and are sharing their thoughts with us on the next steps. With different views from across the island, we are considering all feedback. We also have to consider what is feasible to deliver with the available funding and what will bring the most benefit to our young people and communities, both now and for generations to come.” - Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of ɬ Council.
Ahead of a special meeting on 7 March, to decide a preferred site for a 2-18 campus, ɬ Council has thanked communities for their input and ongoing feedback.
With community engagement at the heart of the Mull campus project, communities have helped shape and progress the project in a number of ways.
Helped secure funding
Removed Iona from the scope
Identified key assessment criteria (education, travel, community and space)
They did it via online surveys, drop-in sessions, Community Sounding Board, Pupil Working Group, monthly project updates and a dedicated project inbox.
Community engagement is not a statutory requirement for the campus project, however the council felt it an important part in the process to gather as many views as possible to help inform a decision.
Speaking about the community engagement process, Councillor Audrey Forrest, Policy Lead for Education said:
“There is no hiding the fact that there are multiple complex issues when considering a new 2-18 campus on Mull and that is clear from the many different views of communities. Throughout this process, we wanted to provide as many open avenues as possible to gather all those views and it’s this essential feedback that has helped formed our preferred site selection.
Due to the limitations of the funding agreement, along with the island’s geography, there is no definitive site option that will fully satisfy all project requirements and address all the potential impacts on the distinct groups on Mull and its surrounding islands. Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust have both confirmed that whilst there is flexibility in the options, there is no additional funding available to cover duplicate costs for a two-site solution. We, as a council are also clear that in this current financial climate when we are trying to save essential services across ɬ, we simply cannot afford two new schools for Mull.
Despite the different views, we all share the same priority – to provide high quality education in a fantastic new facility and one that benefits our young people and significantly increases economic success for the island.
We thank everyone for all the continued interest and respectful feedback and look forward to making an informed decision this week to announce the preferred site.”
Read more about the Mull Campus project on the council website
Background
Community engagement timeline
- 2022 – pre-engagement prior to LEIP bid
- 2022 - project website ٲ
- Aug 2024 - Community Sounding Board ٲ
- Aug - Sep 2024 - open call for sites
- Sep 2024 3-week Community Engagement Period
- “We would like to know what issues you think are important to consider when choosing a site”
- 10 drop-in sessions in locations across Mull and Iona
- QR code link to online survey, shared widely
- 6 – 22 Jan 2025 community groups and pupil working group invited to input to Integrated Impact Assessments
- Dedicated email address available to all for queries
- Monthly project updates emailed to all schools, parent councils, community groups, members of the public