St Columba's R C High School

The History of St Columba’s

St Columba’s High School is a six-year Catholic secondary school which serves the towns and villages of West Fife.  The current school building was opened in 1969 and provides the school with full facilities within one compact site. The Catholic ethos of the school gives it a unity of identity and purpose.  Our pupils come from a wide variety of social backgrounds, but our school is firmly linked to our associated primary schools and parishes.  Pupils should be prepared to participate as fully as possible in all aspects of school life, which will provide appropriate opportunities for the development of their spiritual, moral, social and cultural values.

Pupils travel to St Columba’s from Kincardine in the west to Ballingry in the east; from North Queensferry in the south to Kelty in the north.  Most of the pupils live in Dunfermline and the surrounding area.  St Columba’s has seven associated primary schools:  Holy Name – Oakley, St Bride’s - Cowdenbeath, St John’s -  Rosyth, St Joseph’s - Kelty, St Kenneth’s - Ballingry, St Margaret’s - Dunfermline and St Serf’s – High Valleyfield.  Most of our S1 pupils transfer from these schools.  Some S1 pupils come from other primary schools in West Fife as a result of parental choice.

The Senior LeadershipTeam consists of the Head Teacher, 3 Deputes and a Business Manager.  Each Depute has responsibility for particular year groups in addition to other responsibilities.  There are 20 subject departments, most currently headed by a Faculty Head.  In addition there is a Meeting Learning Needs Base as well as a Pupil Support Suite.  The other staff includes 7 instrumental instructors for music tuition, 10 clerical staff, 1 janitor, 1 General Assistant, 3 school technicians, 1 librarian and 8 special needs Pupil Support Assistants.  There are also catering staff and cleaning staff based in St Columba’s.

The buildings of the school are situated within a campus which extends to three hectares.  The playing fields contain football pitches, hockey pitches, a running track, athletics and cricket facilities and 3 tennis courts.  There is good provision of classrooms, tutorial rooms and specialist accommodation.  There are 9 science laboratories, 3 technical rooms, 8 computer suites, 3 art rooms, 3 home economics rooms, a Resource Centre and Library, a Pupil Support Suite, a games hall, a gymnasium and fully furnished fitness suite.  Pupils and adults who have mobility difficulties can access all of the school.