Due to a steadily increasing school roll, a new modular unit is to be installed in the Lochgelly South PS grounds, which will house the nursery, providing more classroom spaces within the main school building.

Before the unit can be installed, extensive ground remediation works will be required, during which time the building cannot be occupied.

During the year-long works, the school will be accommodated in nearby St Kenneth’s RC Primary School.

This work will be undertaken in two phases:

• Phase 1 (August–December 2023) will involve grouting treatment and stabilisation of the ground.
• Phase 2 (January–August 2024) will involve the refurbishment of the building and installation of the new nursery accommodation.

Shelagh McLean, head of education and children’s services at Fife Council, said: “As standard, particularly in former mining areas like Lochgelly, we carried out investigations to see if the site was suitable for a modular unit and to check for historic mine workings.

“These investigations confirmed that there are historic, shallow, mine workings beneath the school building and grounds. These types of mine workings are likely to result in subsidence damage to the building in the future, unless these works are carried out.”

The work will also include some upgrades to the current school building as well as the erection of the new modular unit.