Overcrowded schools in Fife could face greater challenges ahead

The Scottish Government's route map out of lockdown states children could return to classrooms across Fife in August.

The plan to reopen the country’s schools is part of phase three of the plan, but the government has warned even when pupils do start to return, things will be far from normal, with pupils learning both at home and school and public health measures including physical distancing being enforced.

And in some of the Kingdom’s schools physical distancing could prove to be even more of a challenge for teachers and students with school rolls over capacity.

Data sourced from the Scottish Government’s School Estates 2019 report – which is the latest available, and contains the figures for the 2018-2019 academic year – shows that out of Fife’s 152 primary and secondary schools, 12 were over capacity that year.

They were Hill of Beath, Duloch, Strathkinness, Wormit, Markinch, Kettle, Pitreavie, Capshard, Kirkcaldy West, St Margaret’s RC and Bellyeoman primary schools and Balwearie High School.

Nationally just five per cent of schools are overcrowded, but in Fife it was eight per cent.

According to the figures, Hill of Beath had 26 pupils – 17 per cent - more than capacity enrolled in September 2018, while Duloch had an additional 65 children (15 per cent) and Strathkinness had 10 more than its capacity (13 per cent).

Wormit had an extra 19 children (13 per cent) on its roll, while Markinch was over by 18 (six per cent), Kettle by five (five per cent) and Pitreavie by 10 (three per cent).

In Kirkcaldy, Capshard was over capacity by 15 children and Kirkcaldy West had 14 more – both three per cent more than the capacity.

St Margaret’s RC Primary and Bellyeoman Primary in Dunfermline were nine (three per cent) and three (one per cent) over capacity respectively.

Kirkcaldy’s Balwearie High School was the only Fife secondary school to be over capacity in the 2018-2019 academic year, with an additional 19 pupils.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said the C-19 Education Recovery Group (ERG) is considering all practical options on the reopening of schools.

The spokesperson said: “This includes consideration of any continuing need for physical distancing measures in settings to ensure safety, and the implications of that for school capacity.”

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