We fear children’s future going up in smoke because of school blaze chaos
Parents angry as fire affects pupils’ exam preparation
Parents of pupils at a school devastated by fire say their children’s education is at risk due to the disruption.
They say children at Woodmill High, in Dunfermline, have been taught the wrong subjects and offered reduced class time since the blaze.
The school was badly damaged by the August 26 fire and a 14-yearold boy was later charged with wilful fire-raising to the danger of life.
Pupils are being taught at schools across Fife until temporary accommodation opens next year.
But parents fear performance in exams will suffer because the curriculum has drastically changed. In a letter to parents, depute head Stuart Fraser admitted interim timetables had “caused anxiety” and were “not perfect”.
Pupils working towards National 5s – the equivalent of O Grades or Standard Grades – have not been taught the curriculum. Meanwhile, timetables described as “chaotic” by one parent offered a foreign language some pupils had never been previously taught.
Other pupils were not offered any of the three science subjects – physics, chemistry and biology – but were instead taught basic laboratory skills.
Instead of their history or modern studies lessons, some third-year pupils were put into social classes deemed more suitable for first or second years. Some interim timetables included mostly music and drama lessons.
Class time was also reduced by up to 10 hours a week for some pupils, according to families. Parent Patricia Hunter said: “Initially, S3 pupils were taught subjects they didn’t pick. That was the case for a number of weeks. My daughter wasn’t happy about it and I wasn’t happy about it.”
Debbie Eason, who has twin daughters in S4, said: “My girls are worried sick about their prelims. I have spoken to several of their friends and they all feel they are nowhere near ready. They have not had any homework.
“My daughters want to be PE teachers and they’ve been given 16 weeks of table tennis. What is that teaching them?”
Pupils return to school tomorrow after the October break and it is hoped new timetables will improve the situation but many parents are unhappy about the teething problems. One, who asked not to be named, said: “The interim timetable is chaotic and inappropriate for pupils aiming to sit National 5s. There are too many subjects which bear no relevance to chosen career paths.”
Wilma Pirie, president of Fife EIS teachers’ union, said: “The management and education service have tried to do as much as they can to mitigate the level of stress but, by the very nature of Woodmill staff having to go to different sites to teach, stress levels are very high.”
It is understood school days were shortened because students faced longer journeys to and from their homes.
Fife Council says part of the building will reopen in January but a new school won’t be ready until 2024.
Shelagh McLean, the authority’s education chief said: “The first few weeks were particularly challenging, and interim timetables were put in place while staff and pupils settled into new arrangements over the six sites being used to house them.
“Now all of our 1,400 pupils are studying the appropriate timetables for their age and stage, with additional support for our S4, S5 and S6 who are studying for their exams.”
The Crown Office said a 14-yearold boy appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on August 27 charged with wilful fire-raising to the danger of life. He made no plea and was released on bail.
‘ They all feel they are nowhere near ready for their prelims