The council has approved a major school building programme

The schools will be built over the next three years at a cost of �134m.

Alpha Schools (Highland) Ltd, a consortium of Morrison PLC and Noble Fund Managers, will begin work next month on the first three schools.

The work will be funded under the area's second Highland Education Public Private Partnership (PPP).

New secondary schools are being built at Dingwall Academy, Kinlochleven High School, Millburn Academy in Inverness and Portree High School, which will include a swimming pool, community library and learning centre.

PPP BUILDING PROGRAMME In the Highland's first education PPP project new schools were built at Spean Bridge, Strathdearn, Ardnamurchan and Glen Urquhart Rising school rolls at Insches in Inverness and at Dingwall Academy and Portree High helped to drive the planning for the latest programme The �134m contract includes cost of building the 11 schools, maintenance and janitorial costs for the next 30 years

There will also be a new school for pupils with additional support needs in Inverness, a new primary school at Inshes in Inverness, and the region's first purpose-built school for Gaelic medium pupils in Inverness, as well as new primary schools at Kinlochleven, Resolis, Culbokie and Cawdor.

Council convener Alison Magee said: "This is the most significant investment this council has or is likely to make and demonstrates our commitment to Highland communities.

"These are not only 21st Century schools but very important facilities for the communities concerned."

Councillor Andy Anderson, chairman of the education culture and sport committee, said: "We embarked on this ambitious programme because we want as many pupils as possible to receive their education in surroundings that match the quality of the teaching we provide."

Bruce Robertson, Highland Council's director of education, said he was delighted the programme had been signed.