PLANS for a shared campus to house St Columba's High, Woodmill High and Fife College have come a step closer.

Members of Fife Council's education and children's services committee agreed on Tuesday to progress a project proposal which could see the facility created on the Shepherd Offshore site.

Discussions will now take place with affected communities before a decision on whether to proceed with the idea is made.

After 14 possible locations were mooted, the site – which housed the old Hyundai plant – was deemed by education officials as the "only credible" location.

The council will now look to secure an option agreement to purchase the land which would house the £90 million campus.

Although both schools are desperately in need of replacing, the proposals are still reliant on funding from the Scottish Government coming forward.

Head of education and children's services Shelagh McLean said they were keen to begin early discussions and engagement with local communities.

She stated: "This project would be the first of its kind in Scotland, acting as a pathfinder for change in the delivery of education across secondary, further and higher education.

"It is envisaged that a learning campus will also provide a digital gateway for learning opportunities across Fife, enabling enhanced learning opportunities, in particular within the senior phase."

She told councillors: "What we have done in the 15-24 learning journey in our vision is have the schools working with the colleges more jointly across Fife. To have the colleges working very closely with the schools but also have that wider agenda.

"Our buildings are in condition C just now. There are educational benefits for improving the environment that young people are learning in and building 21st century schools for them to be educated in.

"We have worked with school parents and pupils to look at what their vision of a 21st century is and what type of facilities there would be so we are not starting from scratch. We want to discuss what we have done already and get feedback from the communities."

Dunfermline North councillor Helen Law feared the super campus plans would not be welcomed by the local community.

"All of us involved in these discussions understand how upset folk in Abbeyview will be if there is not a school in Abbeyview," she said. "If the school is removed from Abbeyview, that community will be very upset.

"We have been having discussions about this for years. I would like to have assurances that in whatever shape and form and whatever site, we are not talking about something under one roof and we have moved to each entity having its own identity and we are not cramming two or three entities under the one roof."

Fellow Dunfermline North representative, Ian Ferguson, welcomed the plans.

"I think it is wonderful that we are going down this route," he said. "I love the idea of having the 15 to 24 journey. It is natural progression to go to Fife College from that site."

Labour councillor Colin Davidson said it was important to ensure the two school communities were fully understood.

"Clearly there are going to be challenges," he added. "Abbeyview is not going to be very happy about Woodmill being moved. We are bringing Catholic and non-denominational schools together and need to make sure they are separate entities."

Following Tuesday's meeting, Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville called on Fife Council to work closely with local communities as it moves forward with the project.

"It’s welcome news that Fife Council will be taking the next steps towards developing a Joint Learning Campus," she said. “Dunfermline is sorely in need of new schools, so I’m pleased to see the council taking this matter seriously.

“This project will see new state-of-the-art facilities for local pupils, providing the best learning environment for young people to reach their potential.

“It would also mean a much-needed boost to local school capacity, considering the rate at which our town’s population is growing.

“It’s absolutely essential that in taking forward this work, the council engages with the local communities affected by these proposals. The future of Dunfermline’s schools needs to take into account the views of local people.”

Hugh Hall, Principal of Fife College, also welcomed the news.

“The College is committed to working closely with the Council to deliver the best quality learning experience for the young people of Fife," he said.

"The joint campus development will deliver much needed, modern, fit for purpose learning facilities for our students and the wider community. 

"But it is about so much more than buildings. The joint campus creates the opportunity to re-imagine how we deliver education and skills training in a way that enhances the life chances, the career aspirations and the employability prospects of all.”