“The best school in Scotland” that was the ringing endorsement First Minister Alex Salmond gave to Dunfermline’s new £7 million eco-friendly Carnegie Primary this week.
He predicted the school, built on the town’s eastern expansion as part of Fife Council’s £126 million Building Fife’s Future programme, could become the model to which all future schools aspire.
“The most important thing about a school isn’t a building, it’s the pupils and staff and community but good buildings help enormously and this is fantastic,” Mr Salmond said.
“This will give teachers the opportunity to demonstrate their professionalism. The kids at Carnegie are rightly very proud of their new school and, from what I’ve seen today, I’m sure they will all make us very proud of them in the coming years.”
The school, named in honour of Dunfermline-born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, could well be Scotland’s greenest primary. It is hoped that the school with space for 210 pupils and 95 nursery youngsters will achieve an Outstanding BREEAM Award for its environmental credentials which include its own 15KW wind turbine and a combined heat and power plant.
It also has a number of areas where the children can grow their own food, a nature trail, eco pond and indoor-outdoor classroom.
Helped by four sets of primary one twins, Mr Salmond took time to add the first “hand” to the school’s own Carnegie tree. A towering image on the wall of a main corridor is of the tree planted by Carnegie in Pittencrieff Park.
His “hand” with his signature, is the first of many which will adorn the tree. Mr Salmond unveiled a plaque and also planted a tree, helped by primary seven pupils Kailee Simon and Calum Rennie.
Headteacher Pamela Marnoch, who escorted Mr Salmond round the school on Wednesday, said: “We are so proud of our beautiful new school and it is an honour for us to have the First Minister visit us and speak to the children.
“The tree he has planted today will hopefully grow to become a symbol for the children who will grow here along with it and, who knows, it may inspire some of them to want to lead their country in the future.”
Fife’s education chairman Douglas Chapman added that in the last four years the council had been “raising attainment and achievement year on year” and had recently announced the best set of exam results ever achieved by the region’s pupils.
“Our expectations are raised even further when we see exciting and inspiring new schools like Carnegie coming on stream and being filled with eager, confident and motivated young children.
“Carnegie is part of a huge school investment programme to renew and refurbish our schools in Fife and since 2007 we have already invested £91 million to make improvements to classrooms, gym halls, toilets and play areas across Fife, but also to build completely new schools like Carnegie.”
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty said: “It was a great pleasure for me to be in attendance today at the culmination of a long campaign to bring a third primary school to our community.
“The reason Fife Council bowed to pressure and built Carnegie Primary School is thanks to the campaign run by local residents. Carnegie Primary School is a first class building and will be a fantastic asset for our community.”
Mr Salmond added: “I’m delighted to be able to mark the start of the new academic year by meeting some of the pupils and teachers at this wonderful new school building in Fife.
“More pupils than ever are being taught in good quality accommodation and the Scottish Government is determined to see the situation improve further.”