Junior Primary School (Former), Roods Road, Inverkeithing

Single storey, 10-bay, H-plan school. Squared coursed whinstone to E (principal elevation) and E end of N and S (side elevations); snecked rubble to N, S and W; droved ashlar quoins, rybats and dressings; ashlar basecourse; chamfered window openings; hoodmoulded windows and doors to E.

The Inverkeithing schools are a landmark set on a prominent site high above the burgh´s main street. A grammar school was established in Church Street, Inverkeithing in 1819 (demolished, now the site of war memorial). However, shortly after the 1872 Education Scotland Act, a new primary school was erected in Roods Road in 1874, after which time the grammar school was used for infant classes. The architect, Andrew Scobie was a relatively well-known architect to the Dunfermline area and had already completed a number of important commissions, including Bruce Street Hall (1866). Scobie was simultaneously awarded two school commissions in 1874 and as well as designing the modest school at Inverkeithing, he also produced a more overtly Gothic design for Milesmark Primary School, Rumblingwell, Dunfermline. Scobie specialised in public commissions and when his son joined him after the turn of the 20th century, their practice would continue to undertake more school commissions, including that at Brock Street, North Queensferry. However the commission to design the second school on the Roods Road site was granted to Glasgow architects, Brydon & Robertson who were specialists in providing large, functional commercial buildings including industrial works, schools and hospitals, including the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital in Rottenrow (1903). Inverkeithing was a thriving burgh in the early part of the 20th century due to the development of Rosyth Dockyards, Caldwell's Papermill and the advent of the Forth Bridge. Therefore in 1911, a new primary school was necessary to provide for the rapidly increasing population. (Historic Scotland)

July 2010: External inspection finds the school building in a fair condition and well protected, but disused.

October 2010: Listed building consent and full planning permission have been lodged for alterations to former school building to create residential accommodation with associated car parking and external works (42 residential units and 56 car park spaces)ref: 10/03809/LBC & 10/03625/FULL

31 May 2013: A member of the public notes Dunfermline Press has reported that a legal agreement, a condition of permitted development to convert the site to flats, has been signed between Fife Council and developers Andrail Limited.

27 May 2014: External inspection finds the buildings remain disused. The condition of the complex has deteriorated with roofs in poor condition with slipped slates and missing flashings; blocked or missing rainwater goods; damps walls with associated vegetation growth and whilst some windows are boarded over others are open or broken. Condition moved to Poor and Risk to Moderate.

8 August 2018: External inspection finds the property has deteriorated since the previous site visit. Excessive vegetation growth made it difficult to survey the building fabric. Listed building consent for demolition of former school buildings is being sought June 2017, ref: 17/01429/LBC, as well as full planning permission for the erection of 28 affordable dwellinghouses with associated infrastructure and demolition of existing buildings ref: 17/01391/FULL. Risk moved to Critical.

12 August 2018: The Courier website reported a fire in one of the former school buildings, 12/08/2018.

21 November 2023: Dunfermline Press reports (08/11/2023) that proposals for the redevelopment of the former school into an inter-generational neighbourhood have been taken to the Scottish Government, seeking financial support.