AN "INSPIRING and innovative" £85 million high school in Rosyth will replace an old one in Inverkeithing that's failing badly.

It's due to open in August 2026 and given the long list of faults and flaws the current buildings have, with everything from poor toilets and dodgy heating to out of date CCTV and asbestos, that can't come soon enough.

Councillors are set to start the process at the cabinet committee this Thursday for a public consultation on the relocation to a new site at the Fleet Grounds, on land to the south of the A985 Admiralty Road.

Fife Council said one of the "main drivers" for change is the fact young people with mobility issues from the catchment area can't even attend Inverkeithing High.

A committee report by Carrie Lindsay, executive director of education, explained: "The existing building is not fully accessible and to access parts of the building, users are required to exit and enter at different levels of the site.

"This has resulted in current catchment pupils being accommodated at other secondary schools, to ensure their individual needs are met."

A grade B listed building off Hillend Road, Inverkeithing High was built in 1973 and is made up of seven blocks and a community-use wing that includes a swimming pool.

The last survey noted there are no lifts, the toilets are in poor condition, there are leaking windows, doors and windows that are "difficult to open", classrooms in the community area are "small, dark and lack ventilation", drainage is poor at the playing fields, the CCTV needs upgrading and there are not enough parking spaces.

There is also no natural light in parts of the building, the central heating needs replaced, there are not enough power points, poor storage, the music department is too small for the number of pupils, the stage and dining hall aren't accessible to all, there's not enough social spaces for pupils during bad weather and the staffroom isn't big enough.

Repairs and maintenance in the last five years alone cost £800,000.

The school is rated D for accessibility, the lowest mark, and C for both condition – this means it has major defects and / or is not operating adequately – and suitability.

The buildings contain asbestos and Ms Lindsay added: "In itself, this does not pose a risk, however, any repairs to the building need to be undertaken in controlled circumstances and may require decant of the affected area."

The council decided in November 2020 that the new school would be built in Rosyth and any change of name will be decided after the consultation, which will run from Tuesday April 18 to Friday June 2.

There will be two public meetings, at Inverkeithing High on Thursday April 20 and, due to exams, in King’s Road Primary in Rosyth on Monday May 15, both from 6 to 7pm.

There will also be drop-in sessions at the feeder primary schools: Donibristle PS on May 22, Dalgety Bay PS and Aberdour PS on May 2, Camdean PS on May 4, Inverkeithing PS and North Queensferry PS on May 9, and at Park Road PS and Kings Road PS on May 15.

Inverkeithing is the last high school in West Fife to be replaced with new buildings for Queen Anne in 2003, Dunfermline High in 2012, while the new St Columba's and Woodmill schools will open in August 2024 at the Dunfermline Learning Campus.

The estimated cost is £85m and it will accommodate a maximum of 1,735 pupils from the catchment area, which is from Aberdour to Rosyth.

Ms Lindsay admitted the projected roll is actually above capacity by the time it opens, 1,819 pupils are expected in 2026, but with "additional flexible accommodation" they're confident they'll have enough room.

She added that up to 2,000 houses are expected to be built in the catchment area over the next 10-20 years but the projected roll starts to fall from 2027 and will be just under 1,400 by 2033.

Ms Lindsay said the new school will meet "21st century educational requirements" and create an "inspiring and innovative learning environment" with "enhanced sports facilities" and all-weather pitches.

However there are "currently no plans for a swimming pool" and no news on whether the pool at The Wing will be kept.

Her report merely said the council will "seek to transfer existing swimming provision to other provisions within the authority area".