INVERKEITHING HIGH CLOSES ITS DOORS TO PUPILS FOR THE LAST TIME

Inverkeithing High School will not now reopen to pupils this week,

following an assessment of the damage caused by Friday’s flooding.

The school, which is over 50 years old, was scheduled to close for the last time on Friday but this has now been brought forward because of the damage.

Pupils are moving to the new Caledonia High School at Rosyth after the summer holidays.

There has been significant damage to the Inverkeithing High School electrical substation, leaving it without power, along with water damage in several areas of the building.

With only a few days left of term, and the permanent closure of the school building on Friday, the council has taken the decision now to give parents and carers as much time as possible to plan for the rest of the week.

Home learning will continue until the end of term. Staff are working from Caledonia High School preparing materials, and pupils will continue to log on to their iPads each morning to engage in learning activities set.

Pupils in the Supported Learning Provision (SLP) will continue to attend Inverkeithing High School using their usual transport, where they will be met by staff. Pupils within the Supported Learning Provision will be temporarily accommodated at Inverkeithing Primary School. Teaching and support will continue to be provided by the same Inverkeithing High School teaching and single status staff to ensure continuity for these young people.

Transition visits for Caledonia Ambassadors, Prefects supporting the P7/S1 transition, and SLP pupils will go ahead as planned.

Arrangements will be made for pupils and staff to collect any personal property or items left in lockers. To ensure this can be done safely, timeslots will be allocated for year groups to attend with restricted access to the building. Further information will be provided directly to families.

For families eligible for free school meals, including those receiving Scottish Child Payment, a payment will be made directly to parent or carer bank accounts.

Until the end of term meals will continue to be available for pupils eligible for free school meals, including those receiving Scottish Child Payment. From today, a grab-and-go bag or takeaway hot meal can be collected at the times indicated from the following local primary schools:

· Aberdour Primary School – 12:00 to 12:30

· Camdean Primary School – 12:00 to 12:30

· Dalgety Bay Primary School – 12:00 to 12:30

· Donibristle Primary School – 12:00 to 12:30

· Inverkeithing Primary School – 13:00 to 13:30

· Kings Road Primary School – 12:00 to 12:30

· North Queensferry Primary School – 11:50 to 12:20

· Park Road Primary School – 12:15 to 12:45

Graham Belford, headteacher of Inverkeithing High School, said he is disappointed pupils won’t get the chance to properly say goodbye to their school but is looking ahead to the future.

He said: “I don’t want to wish the holidays away, but I’m really looking forward to starting a new school year in a brand-new place.

“The last few days have been very challenging, and I’m incredibly proud of how our school community has responded at such short notice. This isn’t the way we planned to say farewell to Inverkeithing High, but we are ready to make the move to our new school.

“Caledonia High School will open its doors in August and will provide a fantastic new learning environment for our pupils and staff. The building has been designed to modern standards, with flexible indoor and outdoor learning spaces, improved facilities for pupils who need additional support, and enhanced digital provision throughout.

“I’m confident it will be a positive new chapter for our whole school community.”