The Education and Children's Services Committee today approved the development of a 10 year plan which will set out a programme of work to replace and refurbish Fife schools.

"Building Fife's Future" will invest an estimated £126 million in creating school environments to support the top class learning and teaching practices which already exist across Fife. Six new schools will be built and a further six refurbished as part of Fife Council's commitment to improving educational attainment and achievement for all.

Cllr. Douglas Chapman, Committee Chair, said: "This is an exciting time for schools in Fife. We are spending a previously unheard of amount of money on our school buildings to make sure that our youngsters are given every chance possible to succeed. This is a programme which will help us to deliver our promise of improving attainment and achievement across Fife.

"There is a huge amount of excellent work going on within our schools and it is time that we matched this by providing buildings which are far more than just fit for purpose.

"We have a great opportunity now to get these buildings right and in order to do that we will make sure we are consulting with all interested parties throughout the process."

The £126 million will be used to build a new primary school for Dunfermline, a new secondary school for Kirkcaldy, replacement schools for Madras College, St Andrews, Dunfermline High School and Burntisland Primary School and will replace or refurbish Auchmuty High school.

Further to this three Leven primary schools, Buckhaven High School , St Andrews RC High School and Woodmill High School will all have extensive refurbishment works carried out.

A School Estate Development Project Board has already been established and they will be responsible for the delivery of all the projects. In addition a member officer working group will be set up with elected members, from across the political parties, and council officers working together to monitor progress, give direction, approve business cases and help to direct and guide the whole project.

Stakeholder groups will also be established for each school. These groups will be representative of the local school community and should include members of staff, pupils, parents, community council's and representatives of other users. Their role will be to provide communication links between Fife Council, the groups the represent, the design team, the contractor, parents, pupils and other users of the facility. These groups will also be a forum for discussing outcomes and development of specific school projects.

Councillor Chapman continued: "We are determined to make these buildings as good as they can be to make sure they are right for all those who will be using them now and in the future. Communication is vital to ensure that everything we do will have the full support of the communities involved and will meets their needs