Glenrothes secondary schools need to wait at least another four years for ‘overdue’ investment

Two Glenrothes secondary schools will be need to wait at least another four years for “overdue” refurbishments.

New-build Glenwood and Glenrothes high schools were declared a priority for Fife Council as far back as 2016.

It followed the opening of a new £31 million replacement for the town’s Auchmuty High three years previously.

And a single, merged “super school” was mooted the following year.

However, almost a decade later, work has yet to start and conditions have deteriorated.

The reasons are two-fold.

The Scottish Government did not include the super school project in its £2 billion investment programme, announced in 2023.

It said Fife Council had benefited significantly from previous rounds of funding for new schools.

And the local authority is unable to fund the project itself.

So, what’s the plan?

Replacement or refurbishment?

Proposals for new Glenrothes high schools were officially scrapped in the latest Fife Council budget, agreed in February.

Whether one school or two, the project would cost at least £80 million.

Instead, councillors agreed to set aside £16m for significant refurbishment work.

But it won’t be done for at least four years.

An extension to Madras College is earmarked for 2027-28.

And the Glenrothes work will follow in 2029-30.

According to Glenrothes SNP councillor Craig Walker, it’s long overdue.

However, he says Fife Council’s SNP opposition still hopes to build new schools, despite the funding blow.

‘It’s got to be done’

“We’re still committed to trying to find ways to get the new-builds,” he says.

“Glenrothes High School is 60 years old now and starting to fall to bits.

“Glenwood has had a bit of work done on it but in terms of condition, it’s listed as C (poor).

“We don’t think refurbishment is enough, not for a 60-year-old building.

“If I was a parent sending my kid to Glenrothes High School when there’s a shiny Auchmuty a mile down the road, that would annoy me.”

Mr Walker added: “We need to try to ensure everybody has equity of provision.

“It will take a lot of investment over a lot of years but it’s got to be done.”

Priorities for Glenrothes high schools investment

However, Fife Council leader David Ross said the Scottish Government’s decision forced a rethink.

“Instead, we put in £16m to refurbish elements of the schools,” he said.

“We obviously need to improve them but disappointingly, it will not be a full replacement of the schools.

“We can’t afford anything like the amount needed for that.”

And education head Shelagh McLean confirmed the council will work with both schools to look at priorities for investment.

Those will focus on the condition, suitability and capacity of the buildings.