Fife’s schools have been declared safe after a series of thorough inspections, it has been confirmed.
The assurance by council leader David Ross follows a number of visual and more intrusive tests at 11 schools build under private finance initiatives.
Eight of the buildings were constructed by the same firm responsible for 17 Edinburgh schools which had to be closed amid safety fears in April.
After the Fife inspections repairs had to be carried out on wall panels at two primary schools before the summer holidays but the issues at Oakley Campus and Fair Isle Primary in Kirkcaldy have now been rectified.
It was found that the construction methods used at the Fife schools were significantly different to those used in Edinburgh.
Mr Ross said: “Our technical officers have confirmed there are no safety issues with any of Fife’s schools which were reviewed as part of this inspection.
“As would be common with any inspection, the need for a small amount of minor remedial work was identified but this was largely taken care of before or during the holiday period.”
He added: “Officers are in discussion with the building contractors regarding some outstanding minor safety issues relating to standards of workmanship but they have confirmed that these have no safety implications.”
Fife Council’s SNP group has welcomed the findings but expressed concern that the issues were only picked up during invasive assessments and not when initial visual checks were carried out.
The party’s education spokesperson, Councillor Fay Sinclair, said: “I’m very relieved that these minor issues were able to be addressed swiftly and without the need for school closures.
“However, this highlights the fact that initial visual inspections were inadequate.
“I called for more detailed investigations and I am glad that parents, pupils and staff can now be reassured that our school buildings have been confirmed as safe.”
She said SNP leader Brian Goodall had now called for a report to allow for full public disclosure of the results of the structural inspections and the works needed.
But Mr Ross said a briefing was provided to all elected members on August 19 and added: “To suggest that any information is being withheld is quite frankly disgraceful.”
