A COUNCILLOR has asked how they can prevent the public putting forward names like "Schooly McSchoolface" for the £85 million high school in Rosyth.

Dave Dempsey said that could be one of the drawbacks of a popular vote and suggested the new facility could have 'Bridgehead' in the title, while a colleague said 'King Charles' will have its backers.

The £85m school at the Fleet Grounds will replace Inverkeithing High in just over two years time and this summer Fife Council want to ask pupils, parents, staff and the wider public for their ideas on what it should be called.

At the South and West Fife area committee on Wednesday, Cllr Dempsey referenced 'Boaty McBoatface' topping a poll to name a new polar research ship in 2016.

He said: "It's a knotty problem and I'm reminded of the dangers of putting it out to the public in a big way.

Dunfermline Press: Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Dave Dempsey. Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Dave Dempsey. (Image: Fife Council)

"I don't think Schooly McSchoolface would be an acceptable name for the new establishment."

Tongue removed from cheek, he continued: "What we did before, universally across Fife when a school was being replaced by another school, the name of the school remained, such as Auchmuty, Dunfermline and Beath.

"This is obviously slightly different.

"The Levenmouth example may give us a guide, firstly the fact that replacing 'high school' with 'academy' makes it sound grander, but also having a generic name like Bridgehead which covers the entire area may well soothe more folk than a specific one.

"How we sensibly consult, to avoid the problems they had with the ship (which was eventually named after Sir David Attenborough), is an interesting question."

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On the subject of "daft names" the committee convener, Cllr David Barratt, said: "I think there was a suggestion that the public consultation would come up with a shortlist and this committee would finalise it.

"So if there was a 'Schooly McSchoolface' we would likely not choose it!"

The council are still to decide how the consultation process will work and property services manager Louise Playford said: "The final decision will come back to this committee so hopefully there would be an opportunity to remove anything that ... wouldn't meet the needs.

"What we've done with previous schools is come up with a shortlist that we can go out to the public with so we can give that some thought if that was a process members would welcome?"