EB / News / Building / New learning campus opens in Fife
New learning campus opens in Fife
EB News: 19/12/2024 - 09:32
Thanks to £53.4 million investment from the Scottish government, first minister John Swinney has opened two new schools in Dunfermline, Fife.
St Columba’s RC and Woodmill High School will be based within the Dunfermline Learning Campus, educating young people from primary school all the way through to college. The campus will also house the new Fife College which is expected to open in early 2026.
Should the Scottish Parliament vote for the 2025-26 Budget, councils will be able to share over £15 billion of investment to develop schools and education across Fife.
Opening two new schools also added to the number of schools in “good” or “satisfactory”, which has increased from 62.7 per cent in April 2007 to 91.7 per cent in April 2024. The initiative to level-up the conditions of schools is supported by the Scottish government’s £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), which is to be delivered in partnership with local authorities.
Additionally, nine school projects included in the programme are scheduled to open in 2025-26.
First minister John Swinney said: “Investing in our children’s education is one of the most important investments we can make and my government is determined to continue to deliver progress in Education. The pupils of the state schools on the Dunfermline Learning Campus will be learning in state of the art and modern facilities.
“It is my please to officially open the schools within the Dunfermline Learning Campus and to see this fantastic facility come to life which has been supported by over £53 million of Scottish government investment.
“There is so much to be proud of in Scottish education, with literacy and numeracy at a record high and record numbers of our young people going on to university. Our budget will invest to ensure we can continue this progress.
“That is why I am calling on parliament to unite behind the Budget and ensure we can drive further improvements in our schools, and deliver for our young people.”
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Dunfermline Learning Campus is a key example of the Scottish government — in partnership with local authorities — delivering for local communities through the £2 billion LEIP. For the pupils attending these schools, this campus will be transformative for their education, for their families and for their future.
“I’m really pleased to see that community initiatives have been a focus during the building period. 814 weeks of apprenticeships have been supported for local young people and more that £56,000 donated to local community groups — putting community and social value at the heart of the campus.”
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A report from the Children’s Commissioner calls for improved access to school transport so as many children as possible benefit from free bus travel, and for all eligible children to be auto-enrolled to receive free school meals.
New research from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found that disadvantaged students are, on average, one-fifth of a grade behind in English and one-eighth of a grade behind in maths when resitting GCSEs