Dunfermline - Education

Education

Dunfermline has four secondary schools and fourteen primary schools. Other educational facilities include a private school and a school for children with learning difficulties. Dunfermline High School is the oldest secondary in the town, having originated in 1816 on what is now Queen Anne Street. The school which serves both the southern and western parts of the town as well as Rosyth and Kincardine has occupied a site on St Leonard's Street since 1939. A new £40 million Dunfermline High School, to be built in three phases, on the school's playing fields is set for completion by August 2012. Once the new building is occupied, the old school is expected to be demolished for new playing fields in 2013. Queen Anne High School is located in Wellwood towards the northwest area of the town. Woodmill High School, originally a junior secondary, was upgraded to a High School in 1972. The school was first established in Priory Lane before moving to a new building on Shields Road in 1960 and serves the eastern side of the town as well as the villages of Crombie, Limekilns and North Queensferry. St Columba's High, which opened in 1969 is one of two Roman Catholic secondary schools in Fife. The school caters for pupils living in West Fife from Kincardine in the west to Cowdenbeath in the east.

Further education is provided by Carnegie College who have their main campus at Halbeath. Other campuses include a construction centre in Cowdenbeath and smaller facilities in other West Fife towns and villages. The college was originally founded as Lauder Technical School in 1899 and funded by Andrew Carnegie who named it after his uncle, George Lauder who had been an campaigner for free technical education. A textile school, founded in 1910 and also funded by Carnegie later merged with the technical school in 1927. The school became known as a technical college in 1951 and the name was then shortened to Lauder College in the late 20th century before adopting its present name in 2007. The college is a partner of the Dunfermline Business Centre and provides courses catering to over 10,000 students annually.