Fife Council want to add new class at Dalgety Bay Primary

Fife Council aim to run a public consultation in the new year and if the proposal is approved the work will start next summer.

It's partly in response to the scale of housebuilding across Dunfermline and West Fife - more than 5,000 new homes are on the way - and a shortage of additional support class (ASC) spaces for pupils in this area.

A report explained: "It is expected the project can be delivered during the summer holidays 2025 through to October 2025.

"The final costs of the proposed works will not be available until the consultation is underway.

"Indicative costs, based on other similar projects, are in the region of £160,000 for Dalgety Bay Primary School."

If approved, the additional support class would be added to Dalgety Bay Primary School next year. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Agreement on £4.8 million deal to build 21 homes in West Fife village

The council's cabinet committee will meet on Thursday and are expected to agree that the consultation will run from January 7 to February 21.

A public meeting in the school is pencilled in for Thursday January 23 from 6 to 7pm, there will also be informal drop-in sessions that day from 8.45am to 9.30am, 2.45pm to 3.30pm and 5pm to 6pm.

The committee would then make a final decision in May.

The current ASC provision in Dunfermline and West Fife is in Pitreavie and Cairneyhill primary schools, which have three and two classrooms respectively that are assigned to support pupils.

Based on pupil roll projections, an additional class would "allow more opportunities for pupils’ needs to be met" across the area.

And it would enable local pupils from the Inverkeithing High School cluster to attend Dalgety Bay PS to access ASC provision.

The council described the current education provision for children as: mainstream – nurseries, primary and secondary; ASC provision (additional support classes); and special schools.

The Fife Council report noted that Dalgety Bay Primary School has extensive grounds. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: 'Chap Door Run' can affect the mental health of West Fife residents, say police

There are eight additional support classes at Benarty, Buckhaven, Cairneyhill, Canongate, Castlehill, Pitreavie, Rimbleton and Valley primary schools, and all 18 high schools in Fife have a department of additional support (DAS), as well as learning support teachers and pupil support assistants.

There are also five specials schools offering specialist education within Calaiswood (Dunfermline), Hyndhead (Buckhaven), John Fergus (Glenrothes), Kilmaron (Cupar) and Rosslyn (Kirkcaldy).

A review looked at whether the existing eight ASC were in the "most appropriate geographical locations" across Fife.

It was decided there are "insufficient places" for the current and projected pupil roll in the Dunfermline and South and West Fife area and the Kirkcaldy area.

The report added that the Dunfermline and West Fife area "expects to see over 5,000 new homes constructed".

Dalgety Bay Primary School, which opened in 1969, is on two levels with two blocks comprising primary classrooms, nursery accommodation and an out of school club.

If the proposal is approved the maximum capacity of the school - not including the new ASC class - would change from 434 pupils (14 classes) to 342 pupils (12 classes).

The projected school roll of Dalgety Bay indicates that "no more than 10 classes are required long term" - this school year (2024-25) there are 271 kids within 10 mainstream classes, a 57 per cent occupancy.

The council report said: "The reduction in capacity for mainstream classes to create this provision will not impact on the number of multi-purpose areas within the school.

"Mainstream pupils will still have access to the dining/gym hall and there are sufficient multi-purpose areas across the school for all existing and new users."

There are similar plans for a new ASC at Strathallan PS in Kirkcaldy.