Bosses "Excited" At Innovative School Plans

Council bosses say they can't wait to get started on a groundbreaking high school project.

The Waid Academy in Anstruther will be renovated to act as a hub for the East Neuk, and have space for the likes of the police.

The £21.5M project will be part funded by a wider investment by the Scottish Futures Trust, though no timescale has yet be given for its completion.

The community hub will include:

• Library Services;

• Local Office;

• Secondary school;

• Small business units;

• Space for partner organisations such as Fife College, Scottish Natural Heritage and Police Scotland

Fife Council says the new facility will provide:

• A one stop shop for access to public services

• Improved attainment & learning opportunities

• Access to an increased range of vocational skills

• Improved opportunities for school and adult learners

• Sustainable building, including reduction in carbon footprint

• Business units to help create new jobs and extend skills and enterprise opportunities

Fife Council Leader, Labour's David Ross, said the local authority has "very ambitious plans" for The Waid.

He said "We want to create not just a school but a whole community hub which is both innovative and inspirational in design and which will serve all the communities of the East Neuk. Today’s announcement that SFT will part fund the project will help us realise those ambitions much sooner and I am delighted we can now move forward with this exciting project.”

Iconic parts of the original school building, which was built in 1886 after Lieutenant Andrew Waid left money in his will to provide an orphanage for youngsters in the town, are expected to be retained.

Craig Munro, Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services is excited with the options a new site can bring: