Fife school closures 'devastating blow' to pupils

Education chiefs have described the school closures which marked pupils’ first day back as a huge blow.

Severe overnight weather forced a number of buildings to stay shut, or operate with limited capacity just as parents, pupils and staff were preparing to return to classrooms after five months away because of lockdown and the summer holidays.

The damage caused by torrential rain left some roads blocked and schools mopping up, making a return to class impossible.

Carrie Lindsay executive director of education said the flooding was “devastating news” for all.

And she added: “On the morning our children were due to return to school after five months, we wake up to find that some of our schools have to remain closed because of last night’s storms.

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“This was devastating news for the staff who have worked so hard to get everything in place and were so looking forward to welcoming the children back.

“For the children who were looking forward to seeing their friends and teachers, and finally getting back to normality, this has been another blow.

“We are doing all we can to make sure that any repairs are made as soon as possible so that we can get these schools up and running again.”

Schools forced to close included Benarty, Burntisland, Denend, Glenrothes High School, Lochgelly High School, St Ninians, Torryburn, and Valley in Kirkcaldy.

In many cases both the nursery and primary classes were all hit.

Councillor Fay Sinclair, convener of Fife Council’s education committee, said the local authority was doing everything it could to get pupils back into their classes.

She added: “I don’t think many of us will have seen anything quite like last night’s storm and unfortunately it has had an impact on local roads and buildings.

“It is yet another blow for our young people who were due to get back to classrooms, many for the first time in five months.

“The council’s property teams is doing everything they can to get all of our buildings opened safely, and schools will provide information direct to parents via GroupCall.”

> Hannah Brown is the Local Democracy Reporter for Fife & Angus

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