THE construction of two new high schools is now under way at the £220 million Dunfermline Learning Campus.

It's another step forward for the project with replacement buildings for St Columba's and Woodmill due to open in August 2024.

Fife Council's education spokesperson, Councillor Cara Hilton, said: "This marks another major step forward in bringing two high schools and Fife College together on one site in Dunfermline.

“As a local parent, I’ve campaigned for new high schools for more than a decade and I’m so excited this is finally happening.

“This is a huge opportunity for young people in Dunfermline and across Fife.

"A shared learning campus and the first-class facilities it will bring will open many different routes for our young people – improving attainment, employability skills and positive destinations.”

The main contractor for the schools – BAM Construction – started on site in September 2021 with the initial phase of work nearing completion.

A contract for the schools has now been agreed and work has started on the next phase – building them.

Cabinet secretary for education and skills, Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Following the fire at Woodmill High School in 2019, we have been clear in our commitment to provide funding support for replacing Woodmill and St Columba’s high schools, as part of the new Dunfermline Learning Campus, through our £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme.

“Modern, state-of-the-art learning facilities can inspire pupils, staff and parents and make a positive difference to learning outcomes, and it is fantastic to see the schools element of this exciting project – which is the biggest education infrastructure project in Scotland – starting construction.”

BAM have a track record of building schools and education facilities around Scotland, including the new £40 million Dunfermline High, which opened in 2012.

Construction director Martin Cooper said: “We’ve established strong and positive relationships here already and are keen to help make a big difference creating the new campus, not just simply by doing it, but by how we do it.

“We’ll bring our customary energy and problem-solving approach to bear as always but we’ll actively be looking too for how we can work with the local community, its suppliers and businesses, to help give something extra back.

“It’s going to be a genuinely transformative experience and BAM is very proud to be part of it.”

The schools will share a 58-acre site with Fife College and work on their new campus, with Balfour Beatty as the contractor, is also under way.

College principal Dr Hugh Hall said: “We're incredibly ambitious about what we want to achieve with our new campus.

"Not only will it provide world-class facilities and learning experiences for our students, our communities and regional businesses, the campus will be built to reflect our ambitious climate change strategy and net zero commitments.

“Advanced works on our new Dunfermline campus started in June and we continue to work towards an open date of summer 2024.”

Fife Council is working in partnership with Fife College and the Scottish Government to create the Dunfermline Learning Campus.

The project is procured and managed for the council by hub East Central Scotland.

The hub chief executive, Gary Bushnell, said: “Now that we have achieved this important milestone, the project can move into the next construction phase, and we look forward to delivering a new, high-quality learning campus that will meet all the needs of the community it serves for many years to come.”