Improving School Standards

£6 million worth of improvements to schools across the Kingdom are being voted on today.

Fife Council's executive committee are deciding whether to spend the money as part of a programme to improve existing buildings.

If voted through, schools across the region will benefit from IT upgrades, new lighting and heating and replacement windows and roofs.

Council Leader David Ross, said: “I’m very pleased that we now have plans in place to carry out the £6m of improvement work on the schools receiving pupils affected by the closure proposals within the Sustainable School Estate Programme.

“As promised, all essential work will be completed for the start of the new school year and further improvements will be carried out over the next 18 months. These further improvements will be undertaken during school holidays to avoid disruption to pupils’ learning.

“I know that this has been a difficult period for all those affected, but having visited a number of the receiving schools I have been struck by their positive attitude and the work that has gone into making this transition as smooth as possible.”

The projects are at various stages and costs are being developed further. The refurbishment works will be programmed into 2 phases, Phase 1 will include work undertaken from Easter to August 2015 and Phase 2 is work to be completed by August 2016.

Shelagh McLean, Directorate Resources Manager, said: “Over the past months we have been working very closely with the headteachers of all the schools to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible for everyone involved. We have also been making plans for the improvement works which are needed at the receiving schools.

“We now have a work schedule which has been carefully planned to cause the least disruption possible to all the pupils.”

"If the work plan is approved some significant work will begin during the Easter break with the bulk of improvements being put in place during the summer holidays."