It was in 1960 that Lochaber High School first opened its doors. As a Senior Secondary School it was intended to cater for the higher end of the academic spectrum and provide a full secondary course for children wishing to proceed to university or training college.

In this environment, students aged between 13 & 18 would study a range of academic subjects such as Latin or Physics, and the majority would be in pursuit of a University or College education.

Those who were less academically gifted and intended leaving school at age 15, would transfer to Banavie Junior Secondary School after completing their Primary education. Here the emphasis was on manual skills with instruction in carpentry provided to boys and domestic science to girls, in addition to the usual curriculum.

Other skills such as book-keeping, shorthand and typing were taught in order to prepare young men and women for life as a secretary or office clerk.

An alternative was offered by the British Aluminium Co. who provided careers for youngsters of school leaving age. For financial reasons, many young people preferred this option to following an academic career.

Out with the curriculum, Shinty was ever a popular sport for the boys. Attendance of Sunday School was mandatory for children under 13, while the older pupils were expected to progress to Bible Study classes.

By the 1950s and 60s it was expected that a certain level of education be achieved by all, regardless of wealth or social status. County bursaries or grants were introduced by the authorities, with the intention of removing every barrier for poor but talented youngsters.

On the Islands and in remote areas, children would likely attend a local primary but to commence to secondary school it would be necessary for them to commute to Mallaig Junior Secondary (which fulfilled the same requirement as Banavie) or one of the Fort William Schools. For island children, the prospect of undertaking secondary education was marred by the risk of impoverishing island life. Children returning from school on the mainland brought with them the risk of epidemic. An outbreak of measles in 1951 brought great loss to many communities in the Western Isles.

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