Woodmill rebuild a ‘priority’

Swinney pledge after devastating Woodmill High blaze

A replacement Woodmill High will be a “priority” under spending plans unveiled by the Scottish Government yesterday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the fire-ravaged secondary will be replaced “as quickly as possible”.

Her deputy and education secretary John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government in partnership with Fife Council will include the construction of a new Woodmill High School in the first phase of the learning estate investment programme.”

A replacement for the fire-ravaged Woodmill High School will be built as soon as possible, the Scottish Government has announced.

Education minister John Swinney confirmed yesterday money for a new build in Dunfermline will be provided in the first phase of a £1 billion school estates investment programme.

It is unclear where the new school will be built but Mr Swinney said he was keen to take forward plans for a joint learning campus to house Woodmill, St Columba’s RC High and Fife College.

The funding will not kick in until Scotland’s current school building plan ends in 2021, however, and it has been acknowledged it could be three or four years until the campus is ready.

The announcement has been welcomed by Fife Council.

In the meantime, Woodmill pupils will continue to be housed in various schools across west Fife, as well as at Fife College and the Vine Conference Centre in Dunfermline, until Christmas when a medium-term plan will be announced.

Mr Swinney, who will visit the Woodmill site today, said the Scottish Government would support Fife Council’s education service in its quest to come up with a solution.

“I’m pleased to confirm the Scottish Government, in partnership with Fife Council, is committed to funding the full replacement of Woodmill High School.

“The government has been engaged in discussions with Fife College and Fife Council regarding the creation of a new campus to draw together Woodmill, St Columba’s and Fife College.

“These discussions were very active even before the fire.”

Fife’s education convener, Fay Sinclair, said the council welcomed the government’s support in the wake of the devastating fire on August 25.

“These discussions were very active even before the fire. EDUCATION SECRETARY JOHN SWINNEY

Education Secretary John Swinney.