Due to the workload currently facing the Education Department in light of an upcoming HMI inspection, the report due to come before councillors at the end of August will be carried out by Consultants - but at a price.

Councillors voted last month to defer the closures of all S1/S2 schools until they had considered a report on the implications of extending provision at Bayble, Daliburgh, Sgoil nan Loch, Paible, Lionel, Back and Shawbost up to S3.

This report will now also consider all educational, financial and technical implications of continuing S1/2 provision until a new Nicolson Institute is ready to receive pupils, as well as transport, canteen and welfare issues resulting from the transfer of pupils.

The majority of councillors attended a seminar on Tuesday morning to discuss their educational policy and the next course of action.

A statement from the Comhairle following the meeting said: "The compilation of such a report will be an extensive and time consuming piece of work.

"However, it is important that this report be brought to the next series of meetings in August and to accelerate the work to enable this deadline to be met, the services of an Education Consultant will be engaged. This is vital to minimise the impact of any delay on the Western Isles Schools Project but in the interim period the Chief Executive has been authorised to commission such design works as are possible within the parameters agreed by Members."

The delay in making or implementing the decisions on the S1/2 schools is thought to have had an impact on the schools project already as the Consultant design team have been unable to proceed with designs until they know what the future will hold.

The Comhairle are currently unable to say how much the S1-3 consultants report will cost but they say that each department does have leeway for exceptional circumstances within their budgets.

Speaking after Tuesday's seminar, Education Chair Morag Munro said: "The seminar proved a very useful sounding board for Members and additional clarification was provided on some aspects of the next stage of the process which will culminate in a report to the Education and Children's Services Committee in August."

The future of the Isles unique S1/S2 schools have also been hitting the national headlines this week with the debate making the front page of the Times Educational Supplement (TES) and also featuring in the Scotsman's Education supplement.

In an article published on July 4 in the TES, the fallout between the Scottish Government and the Comhairle over the potential to fulfil Curriculum for Excellence within an S1/S2 school has been debated.

The article reports that Outgoing General Secretary of School Leaders Scotland, Bill McGregor and current President, Brian Cooklin, both believe that there should be caution before closing schools until the new curriculum reforms have bedded in.

Similarly Professor of Education at Strathclyde University, Brian Boyd said: "The is nothing in the document suggesting you need to spend three of these years in the one place."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government also told the Gazette last month that in contrast to the Comhairle's view they were of the opinion that 'location' would become less important with the new Curriculum.

Commenting on the Times report, Chair of Bayble School Parent Council, Iain Don Maciver said: "I seem to remember some councillors stating, including the Vice Convenor, that the new curriculum could not be delivered in S1 & S2. Who at this stage really knows? Who actually knows better? It seems that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar certainly do not."

A further column in the same paper by Headteacher of Tynecastle High in Edinburgh, Alex Wood, states his belief that the new Curriculum is 'a mess of pottage' and that it is 'time to pause.'