Highland Council have put forward Inverness High School and it’s feeder primaries, which includes Merkinch Primary, for a new government project called ‘New Community Schools’.

The project is at a very early stage but could mean a wide range of social, health and volunteer groups taking up residence inside school grounds. With the help of an ‘integration manager’ it is hoped the school and other groups would then be able to join forces more effectively to help members of the community.

The project is a long term strategy and will not see results overnight. Mr Cunningham said: "There won’t be much of a difference initially but if the pre-schools and primary schools have more resources when those children come to us they will already have achieved more."