A primary school in the Highland village of Ballachulish has been badly damaged by a fire that broke out in the early hours of Thursday, leaving staff and families facing a race to find somewhere for their children to learn.

A neighbour raised the alarm, calling 999 shortly before firefighters arrived at the Lochaber school at about 00:40. Crews worked through the night to bring the blaze, described as well established, under control and make the building safe.

No-one is believed to have been inside at the time. The school, which is closed for the October holiday, is made up of two classes and a nursery.

Damage being assessed

Highland Council said the full extent of the damage was still being assessed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, while its own maintenance and estates officers had also been on site.

The council's education management team is supporting the head teacher, who went to the school during the day and has contacted parents.

Officials are now working on alternative arrangements so that pupils can continue their lessons when the new term begins on Monday 26 October.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.

Firefighters remained at the scene into the morning to damp down hot spots and check the structure, and the area around the building was cordoned off while assessments were carried out. Residents were asked to stay clear of the site.

Parents said they had woken to messages from the school and pictures of the damage shared by neighbours, with many expressing relief that the fire had happened while the building was empty during the holiday.

'So much more than a building'

Head teacher Mary Evans said the news had been hard to share with families.

"This is really horrible news to share, but our school is so much more than a building," she said. "It is the children, families and staff who make it the special place it is."

"Whatever challenges we may face, I know that the strength and kindness of our school community will help us through them together."

She thanked the neighbours who first raised the alarm and the firefighters "for their amazing efforts to tackle the fire and make the site safe".

A small school at the heart of a village

Ballachulish sits on the shores of Loch Leven, close to the mouth of Glencoe and a few miles from the Ballachulish Bridge that carries the main road between Fort William and Oban.

Once famous for its slate quarries, the village is now better known as a gateway for walkers and climbers heading into Glencoe's mountains. Its population is small, and the primary school and nursery are among the most important shared spaces in the community.

For rural communities like Ballachulish, the local school is often far more than a place of lessons. It can be a meeting point for parents, a venue for events and a key reason families choose to stay in the area.

Losing access to the building, even temporarily, can mean children travelling to other villages or being taught in community halls – arrangements that can be particularly difficult in remote Highland areas where journeys are long and public transport limited.

What happens next

Highland Council has said it will set out its plans for pupils before the end of the October break. Investigators from the fire service are expected to examine the scene to establish how the fire started.

In the meantime, parents and residents have been sharing messages of support for staff and pupils online, with many echoing the head teacher's words that the school community, rather than its walls, is what matters most.

With just over a week until term begins, the priority for the council and the school is ensuring that the village's youngest children can return to their classrooms – wherever those classrooms may now be – with as little disruption as possible.