FIRE-HIT Woodmill High School could reopen again in some form in the new year.

Fife Council education bosses believe a large part of the school's building in Abbeyview can be saved.

Structural surveyors and architects are currently on site trying to assess the full extent of the damage and determining what can be salvaged.

The school was set ablaze on August 25 in what was described by the fire service as one of the "biggest" fires in Scotland this year.

A 14-year-old boy was charged with wilful fire-raising and has appeared in court in connection with the incident.

Speaking to councillors at the education committee, Shelagh McLean, Fife Council's head of education, said: "We are working with the various parties across the organisation to determine what we can salvage from the building.

"It appears at the moment that quite a lot of the building will be able to be saved, a significant number of the classroom space will be reinstated and we will be able to accommodate young people for the future.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to start operating from the building in January in some form.

"That does not mean we will be able to accommodate all of our young people at that point in time. We don't know how many we'll be able to bring back in and what we have said to parents and young people at the moment is we will work between now and Christmas to determine what is right for the young people."

Concerns have been raised about what impact another move could have on students, particularly S4, S5 and S6 pupils who are studying for qualifications.

Ms McLean promised they would need to make sure that any further change would not have an impact on learning before anything was decided.

Woodmill's 1,400 students are currently being accommodated across six sites around West Fife.

Pupils have been split by school year with teachers and support staff following them to the host buildings – operating as a solo Woodmill unit to keep the school's identity.

At first, students were being taught just three subjects a day and some are still following that timetable arrangement with teachers travelling between sites to deliver lessons.

However, there are fears that staff are already suffering from a burnout.

Councillor Colin Davidson told the committee: "I thank the staff for dealing with a pretty devastating set of circumstances in such a professional way.

"I know staff down there and they are being supported. The real challenge is finding a solution as quickly as we can.

"I think already staff are starting to feel the strain."

Dunfermline councillor Jean Hall Muir added: "I want to extend my thanks on multiple levels because the catchment is in my ward, I'm also a Woodmill parent.

"The communication, in particular, has been extraordinary.

"I will echo that both the pupils and teachers have been incredibly positive but they are fragile. They are exhausted."

Ms McLean explained that the educational psychology service had been offering support both for pupils and teachers since day one and if there was a request for additional support, council officials would make sure that was in place.

Education bosses are also hopeful that the community-use building at Woodmill will be operating as soon as it is accessible.

The astroturf pitch has been left undamaged and already sports clubs are making use of that.

The committee was also informed that phase two of demolition will start this week and would take around eight weeks to complete.

Primary 7 pupils due to move up to Woodmill are still undertaking transitioning activities despite the circumstances.