Tarradale Schools
Attribution: unknown or not recorded
Tarradale Public School
Before 1875, the children of the area were educated by the church, with the more intelligent and those that could afford it, being sent to school in Inverness. In a newspaper dated 1875, there is an advert for tenders, looking for tradesmen to build a new school and teachers’ residence on land at Carnachclarsair. (The site where the Muir Hub and adjoining house are today, 2023).
The first headmaster was Kenneth Alexander Maclean, who led the school from 1876 until 1910.
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
Extract for first day of school log book, May 2nd 1876
This (Tarradale Public School) is, according to the provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, built on the site of the old Parochial side school.
The buildings consist of a house for the teacher, a schoolroom and a classroom.
The principal schoolroom is 67 ft, 4 in long, 18ft wide and 12 high. The classroom is 34 ft 6 in long, 16ft broad and 12 high.
The school was publicly opened by the Rev. Jas. MacDonald, Free Manse, Urray. Chairman of the School Board. All the other members of the Board were present with one exception, together with a fair number of Ratepayers and scholars.
The new teacher, Mr Kenneth Alexander Mclean, late of Plockton Public School, with Mr William McKay, late teacher in the Free Church Old School as Assistant, entered on duty on the 3rd with 80 scholars.
Members had increased to 101 within ten days of opening with attendance being affected by local monthly market, the average for the first week was around 85. By mid-June the weekly average attendance was 121 scholars. The first school inspection took place in May 1877 where the inspectors’ comments were as follow:
“The school is in remarkably good order and the instruction in stand and work is very efficient.
Writing of the first standard, excellent; Reading, good; Arithmetic, very good. Arithmetic of the second standard, very good; Dictation, excellent; Reading, meanings and grammar, good. Reading, meanings and grammar of the third standard, good; Dictation, excellent; Arithmetic, good; History and Geography, excellent; Latin, moderate.
A clock should be supplied without delay”
Tarradale Public School was one of the most important schools in the area. The school was so well respected that the neighbouring settlement at Beauly reported that on Mr MacLean’s appointment, they would be watching the new advancements with keen interest and follow their example. For many years before, children in the area had to travel to Inverness for an education.
His admirable work was recognised by the Educational Institute conferred a fellowship on him in 1883.
Alexander Fowler took over as headmaster in 1910 and remained in this building until the new building (presently the village library, 2023), was opened in 1913. (See Tarradale School, below)
School Log, 17th October 1910.
“Commenced duties as headmaster in this school on 17th October at 10 o’clock a.m. Messrs Cameron, Chisholm and MacKay, members of the School Board were present, and addressed the children.” Alexander Fowler
Inspectors report 8th March 1911
“Mr MacLean, who conducted this school with much zeal and fidelity for a long period of years has recently retired on attaining the age limit. His successor has made a promising start and he and his staff are working faithfully and well under very unfavourable conditions; the inadequacy of the accommodation with its consequent imperfect organisation, and the otherwise unsuitable character of the rooms hamper in no small degree the proper working of the school. In these circumstances it is earnestly hoped that the proposed new buildings will be proceeded with without undue delay. It is understood that in the new classrooms adequate provision will be made for the instruction of both boys and girls in practical subjects”
Following the opening of the new school building in 1913, the older building was kept for practical instruction. It is uncertain how long this building remained for this purpose, but by the mid 1930’s, the building was referred to as “The Men’s Club”, where they held regular meetings from October until May each year.
Tarradale Junior Secondary School
In 1912, the School Board of Urray agreed to build a new school, utilising the old building for practical instruction. The new building was opened on the 24th November 1913 by Mrs G. Gillanders, Foresthill who was also presented with a silver key to mark the occasion, by the architect, Mr Munro. Mrs Gillanders “sincerely hoped that teachers and pupils would have great success in all their work in that beautiful building.” The new school was excellently equipped with an imposing frontage built from Tarradale Stone from the local quarry. The building was divided into four large rooms, accommodating 200 pupils. There was also a staffroom and cloakrooms at both entrances and a corridor with woodblock floor and varnished pitch pine walls throughout. The building had been designed by architect Thomas Munro of Inverness and local contractors were used as much as, including Mason, Messrs Logan & MacDonald, Muir of Ord; Carpenter, Alex MacKenzie, Muir of Ord with many others from Dingwall and Beauly. The old building was to be utilised for cookery and laundry classes.
School Log, 18th October 1915
Having been granted leave of absence by the School Board, to joing His Majesty’s Forces for the duration of the present war. I, this day, handed over my duties to Mr K.A. Mclean, who was Headmaster of this School previous to my appointment and who, very patriotically has sacrificed his well-earned leisure to return to the scene of his former labours.”
Alexander Fowler
Alexander Fowler returned to his past as headmaster on 1st December 1919, less than a month after Armistice.
By 1939, with the raising of school age an extension was under discussion with work to be undertaken as soon as possible. I suspect this extension never came about due to the outbreak of WW2. There were however adverts for contractors to apply for tender on additional classrooms in 1950 when the school was now referred to as a Junior Secondary School.
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
Tarradale Primary School
By 1967, there were more adverts out for contractors to apply for the tender of a new Infant and Primary School in the village. A building of brick construction, with some structural steel framework and extending to some 15,650 square feet, partly on two floors and partly single storey with a headmaster’s house and janitor’s house. The building now being the Tarradale Primary School we all recognise today. The new headmaster was to be Tom Stewart who remained at the school until sometime in the 1980’s.
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
