The new Dunfermline High School was officially opened this week by Fife Provost Jim Leishman.
The school opened its doors to pupils last August but the building had yet to be formally opened so today was a day for pupils, staff and others involved in the building process to gather and celebrate the success of the new building.
Provost Jim Leishman said: “Dunfermline High School is the flagship school in the Building Fife’s Future Programme, which will see seven new schools built around Fife.
“From its ultra modern yet super-functional design to its magnificent eco-credentials Dunfermline High School is a building to be proud of and you can see in the faces of the pupils that they are proud of their new school.
“Dunfermline High School has a long history and has always enjoyed a great reputation, this new building gives the staff and pupils the facility they need to build on that reputation and be all they can be by taking full advantage of the state-of the-art building and everything it has to offer.”
Pupils, staff and guests were treated to a programme of music and performance before the official opening of the school was carried out and a plaque unveiled to mark the occasion, guests were then given a guided tour of the school.
Cllr. Alex Rowley, Leader of Fife Council, said: ““I want to take this opportunity today to thank the people of Fife, who, through their taxes will be paying for this new school for many generations to come. This £40 million investment in young people along with the many other new schools being built across Fife is a testament to the value the people of Fife put on education and sets the high standards we want for all our school buildings”.
Built in partnership with BAM Construction, the school has a number of exciting features which depart from the traditional idea of how a school should look. The building’s main feature is the transparency of every area of the school. To ‘see and be seen’ is the key in this building, a design which has been proven in other schools to improve behaviour and markedly decrease bullying.
The central “street” creates a feeling of community linking up the three teaching wings of the school and provides a flexible open space for learning, performance and socialising.
Many of the sub-contractors on site were local businesses and Fife Council’s Building Services carried out most of the joinery work on site after winning the contract in competition.
The building was designed and built with the collaboration of the school and the Education service to ensure a building to meet the educational needs of children now and into the future. Many of the design features came directly from feedback given by pupils who were involved in a design festival, held at the beginning of the BFF programme. The widespread use of natural light, the open space and flexible learning areas are all things specifically requested by the young people themselves.
The building has also been constructed with the latest environmentally friendly features with natural light being used to maximum advantage, rainwater collection to flush toilets, great insulation and natural ventilation in classrooms.
Headteacher Bryan Blanchflower said: “This has been a great chance for the whole school community to come together to celebrate our new school. We are all so proud of it and honoured to be able to work in a building which has been almost tailor-made for us.
