Waid Community Campus has been officially opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney in a special ceremony with almost the whole school looking on.
The unique design of the new building in Anstruther, with its central atrium and impressive “Hellerup” stairs — named after the school in Denmark where the style was first used — meant most of the school could witness the official ceremony from the balconies and play a a part of the historic occasion.
Three previous headteachers of Waid Academy were also among the audience to watch the beginning of a new era in the East Neuk.
Mr Swinney said: “Waid Academy has been at the heart of the East Neuk throughout its 150 year history and this new building has extended that role in new and exciting ways, hosting a wide range of community facilities all under one roof.
“I am pleased that the Scottish Government was able to provide funding of £12.3 million from our Schools for the Future programme to help make this happen.
“I am very impressed by the way the building’s cutting-edge design complements the ethos of openness, inclusiveness and welcome which Waid Community Campus offers.
“The young people I have met today are making full use of this wonderful building and I wish them all the best for their future.”
The school has been fully open since August and the wider community has also been enjoying the new facilities, which include a council customer service point, library, sports and leisure facilities, learning opportunities and a hugely popular community cafe — all under one roof.
Convener of Fife Council’s education and children’s services committee, Councillor Fay Sinclair, said: “Bringing a range of services together with this amazing new school makes it much easier for local people to access the services they need.
“New sports, learning and community facilities and classes supported by Fife College, along with a new library are all here now in one building.
“It is great to see the local community enjoying the benefits of the new campus.”
Rector Iain Hughes is delighted with the new building.
He said: “We have all settled into our new home, getting used to new ways of working and we are still finding new and exciting ways to use this very flexible building.
“I’ve always been immensely proud of our young people, who are a credit to their families and communities, and I’m so pleased that they have been given such an outstanding building to learn in.
“They are taking full advantage of the learning spaces, which are supporting the innovative teaching and learning provided by our staff.”
Fife Council, along with the Scottish Government, invested £24.3 million in the new campus.
It is one of six secondary schools and two primaries which make up Fife Council’s £250m-plus Building Fife’s Future Programme.
