I am continuing to campaign for a new high school for Inverkeithing. I have written to the Deputy First Minister of Scotland to raise my concerns about the funding for a replacement. Inverkeithing needs a new high school, and it must not fall of the agenda for discussion. See the text of the letter I sent below:
Dear Deputy First Minister,
I am writing to you about the pressing need for funding for a replacement for Inverkeithing High School in Fife which is in a very poor condition and not conducive to an ideal learning environment for pupils or staff.
In the face of the challenges presented by the building, the staff and young people continue to strive for high standards of achievement.
The school’s examination results in 2017 were the best ever:
• 51% of S4 pupils gained at least 5 National 5 qualifications
• 25% of S5 pupils gained at least 5 Higher qualifications
• 45% of S5 pupils gained at least 3 Higher qualifications
• 67% of S5 pupils gained at least 1 Higher qualification
This is not the first letter I have written to you on this subject, having raised it with you in August 2016 when you were Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Economy. I also wrote to, and spoke in person on this matter, to your predecessor as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance MSP.
There has been excellent work done in recent years in Fife to replace high schools – leaving Fife with little capacity in its capital budget. I had hoped to see progress on options for Inverkeithing arising from discussions between the Scottish Government and Fife Council; and my concern now is that Inverkeithing has fallen off the agenda and this would not be acceptable.
I ask that you look at the options for financing a new build replacement school for the current Inverkeithing High School which has served the wider community well but is sadly no longer fit for the purpose of providing a 21st century environment for learning and teaching.
I am also writing to Fife Council along similar terms to ask where they see the replacement school in their priorities and I do hope you can assist with this.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Rowley MSP
Mid Scotland and Fife
