People focused and community driven, the project brings together two operationally separate schools, Woodmill High School and St Columba’s RC High School, into one 26, 666 m2 building, serving 2,700 pupils.

Demonstrating Fife Council’s long-term dedication to sustainability and community, achieving the Passivhaus accreditation was part of their initial brief. One of the first construction projects to apply the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)‘s new ‘Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard’, this is also SFT Pathfinder project.

Stuart Bryson, project director, AHR, said: “We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved here. This project demonstrates what’s possible when ambitious sustainability goals align with innovative design. The school sets a new standard for future educational buildings, proving that high-performance, low-energy design can enhance the learning environment in a meaningful way.”

The project posed unique challenges given the complexity of designing a school to meet Passivhaus standards, which typically favours compact, simple structures with limited north-facing openings, neither of which are ideal in an education building of this scale.

Architects and Passivhaus designers AHR worked hard with the whole project team to integrate Passivhaus design principles from the outset, whilst ensuring that design quality remained at the forefront. Early design choices in orientation, form factor, and structural frames drove Passivhaus compliance.

The building’s orientation maximises natural light while reducing energy consumption, creating a comfortable and inspiring learning environment. Sitting on the wider Dunfermline Learning Campus, the principal facades’ north / south orientation also addressed the wider campus masterplan requirements. 

With the two high schools combined into one single structure, the design boasts a highly efficient form factor that minimises heat loss. Additionally, the project team came together to undertake a thorough building frame analysis, to determine the best solution balancing the key criteria of airtightness, embodied carbon and buildability. An innovative, hybrid frame was selected, comprising a precast concrete frame. for the main school building, a cross laminated timber frame for the sports block and a steel frame for the central core of the building.

Passive measures such as high performance triple glazing, solar shading, shading fins and high levels of insulation enhance the building’s energy performance. These features reduce the risk of overheating during summer months while also optimising solar gain in winter, maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the year. Outstanding levels of ventilation and air quality foster improved cognitive function and enhance the overall wellbeing of both pupils and staff.

As a result of these innovations, the Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High School has become a benchmark for sustainable school design in the UK. Fife Council is building on this success by continuing to work with AHR and BAM to develop the new Caledonia High School, another Passivhaus Classic targeting school, due to open in 2026.

The Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High School reflects the growing demand for sustainable, people focused educational environments, offering a blueprint for future developments across the UK.