Hundreds of pupils who were displaced when fire ripped through their secondary school will be welcomed back to their old classrooms next week.
Woodmill High in Dunfermline, which was devastated by a blaze in August, will reopen for S3 to S5 pupils when the new term starts on Tuesday.
The move is the first phase of a bid to return all 1,400 students to the Shields Road school this year.
It is hoped S1 and S2 pupils will move back after the Easter holidays, although youngsters from the department of additional support will continue with their current arrangements at Blairhall Primary until the start of the next school session in August.
Only part of the original building is ready to be used at this stage and three hutted accommodation blocks have been set up in the playground as a temporary measure.
Damaged buildings have been demolished.
Fife Council’s education and children’s services convener Fay Sinclair said she was absolutely delighted that the building was ready to welcome pupils.
“A huge amount of work has been done on the site since the fire in August, with the demolition of the damaged buildings, refurbishment of some existing accommodation and the addition of three hutted units,” she said.
The SNP councillor added: “To have achieved this in such a short timescale, while operating a high school over seven separate locations, is thanks to the fantastic effort of headteacher Sandy McIntosh and his staff, council officers and partners.
“I know it hasn’t been easy but the way everyone has pulled together and the amazing community spirit displayed has really shone through what was a devastating event.”
Pupils have been housed at various buildings across west Fife since the huge blaze on August 24, just three days into the new school year.
Mr McIntosh said everyone was looking forward to returning to Woodmill.
“We’re excited as we start to get some of our young people back to Woodmill from January 7,” he said.
“It’s another step closer to returning all of our young people to their school.”
Mr McIntosh and Fife Council’s education officers were widely praised for their swift work to accommodate all pupils soon after the major fire.
Despite a logistical nightmare, alternative classrooms were secured within five days of the incident and, while the school was split, year groups were kept together and Woodmill kept its own identity.
A 14-year-old boy appeared in court in connection with the fire on August 26.
