The original St Columba’s RC High School was opened in 1922 in Cowdenbeath as a combined Catholic senior secondary for all Fife pupils and a junior secondary for pupils from the immediate Cowdenbeath area. In 1959, the new St Andrew’s High School in Kirkcaldy took on the role of the Catholic senior secondary and St Columba’s became a junior high school with a catchment area covering Dunfermline and West Fife.

The previous school buildings were constructed in 1969, at which point the old junior high school in Cowdenbeath was closed.  In 1973 St Columba’s then developed into a six year Catholic co-educational comprehensive school in line with local authority policy.  The move to the new Dunfermline Learning Campus took place in August 2024.

St Columba’s RC High School is a secondary school with a maximum capacity of 1069 pupils.  The school roll is currently 851 with pupils ranging from 11-18 years.  There are over 100 teaching and support staff in school.

St Columba’s RC High School is a six-year Catholic secondary school which serves the towns and villages of West Fife.  St Columba’s has seven associated primary schools: Holy Name in Oakley, St Bride’s in Cowdenbeath, St John’s in Rosyth, St Joseph’s in Kelty, St Kenneth’s in Ballingry, St Margaret’s in Dunfermline and St Serf’s in 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.

Our pupils come from a wide variety of social backgrounds, but our school is firmly linked to our associated primary schools and parishes.

The vision for the campus is centered on inclusiveness and collaboration between the St Columba's RC HS, Woodmill HS, Community Use, Fife College, and other related organisations supporting, engaging and integrating the young people of West Fife into the local community.

It is a unique opportunity to provide a consolidated approach to learning and skills development, supporting a clear learner pathway from second-level education through to training and third level / further education, onwards into the world of business, enterprise, and employment.

Dunfermline Learning Campus is being developed as a major hub of exemplar education training with innovative industry links for current and future learners.

       The school Latin motto is "Tenui Nec Dimittam" which means "I will hold and not let go".

The school is fully accessible in all areas of the building, including access to facilities in our fitness suite for wheelchair users.