East Neuk pupils will soon be sitting down to lessons in a new secondary school after councillors cleared the way for a new Waid Academy.
Planning consent was issued for the construction of an “innovative” £24 million replacement of the ageing Anstruther school.
Fife Council said work will begin as soon as possible on the three-storey building, with pupils due to move in in March 2017.
The school will also serve as a community hub, providing a new home for the council’s local office, the library and a base for police officers.
Voicing delight at the decision by Fife Council’s north east planning committee, East Neuk and Landward councillor Donald MacGregor said: “The new school, even more community-oriented, will be a model of its kind.
“Public support for the concept was reflected in the unanimous approval expressed by councillors.”
There was criticism of the design of the school, influenced by agricultural buildings, but fellow East Neuk councillor Elizabeth Riches said: “I’m very excited by the prospect of a new Waid.
“It does have a very simple, very basic design, but we should be concentrating on what’s going to be provided inside.
“This is innovation on a scale we have not seen.”
Education spokesman Bryan Poole said: “The inside of the school is completely different to any we’ve had before. There are lots of break-out areas which allow for a much more innovative way of learning.
“There is a heavy emphasis on business and enterprise skills.”
Funded by Fife Council and the Scottish Government, the school will be built in the north west of the existing school site, currently a grass playing field and all-weather pitch.
At its heart will be a central dining and ‘social learning hub’ atrium, a triple height space with a ‘performance stair’ and ‘enterprise bridge’.
It will have a new all-weather pitch laid to Scottish Rugby Union standards and a hockey pitch. Grounds will also include a wildflower meadow, ‘nurture courtyard’ garden and a habitat walk.
The original Waid Academy building will be retained but extensions demolished.