A Fife MSP has been accused of playing political games after claiming two Glenrothes schools have been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.
Bryan Poole, the region’s executive spokesperson for education, said claims Fife Council’s Labour-led administration had under-invested in maintaining Glenwood and Glenrothes High were “mischievous”.
The accusations were made by the town’s SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth after The Courier revealed last month plans to replace the current institutions with a single, merged school were being drawn up.
Claiming the current sites are in need of more investment, Ms Gilruth said: “It is telling that Fife Labour now want to talk about investment in Glenrothes High School and Glenwood.
“Having visited both and met with the head teachers it is clear to see the buildings are in dire need of an upgrade.
“You only need to compare them to Auchmuty to see that.
“If these buildings are not fit for purpose, however, then the question needs to be asked on whose watch has this occurred?
“The Labour Party have dominated local politics in Fife for most of my life. How they treat our schools is telling.”
Separated by just half a mile, Glenrothes High celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, while Glenwood is even older, having opened in 1962.
To replace the schools it is thought around two thirds of any funding will need to come from the Scottish Government, with Fife Council meeting the remaining costs.
Responding to Ms Gilruth’s claims, Mr Poole, an independent councillor, said the local authority has continued to invest in Glenrothes’ school buildings to keep them up to standard.
Claiming the need to replace the buildings was partly due to inefficient design, he said: “A number of Fife schools were built in the 1960s, when energy was cheap, but with prices going up the cost of heating these schools is huge.
“Jenny is unfortunately playing the political game between the SNP and Labour.
“This is more about hammering each other than the needs of the children.
“Both Glenwood and Glenrothes High Schools are good schools that are well led.
“Ms Gilruth is being mischievous and it does not do anyone any good to imply that our schools are not in the condition they need to be.”
