School places knocked back

61 non-catchment requests refused

More than 60 children were denied places at schools in Perth and Kinross this term, including 38 whose families requested a place at Kinross High School.

Sixty-one separate requests from families for their children to be taught at schools outwith their catchment area were refused out of a total of 173 received by the council this year.

Staff were able to accommodate 21 out of 24 families who asked for a space for their young ones at Perth High School as well as all 14 who asked for spaces at Perth Grammar School.

They were also able to accommodate 31 out of 39 families who asked for a spot at Perth Academy and a further 22 out of 34 who asked for one at the newly-completed Bertha Park High School.

Officers accepted all non-catchment requests received for places at Breadalbane Academy, Crieff High School and the Community School of Auchterarder too - 10, two and 12 respectively.

But not one request for a space at Kinross High School was granted, although a council spokesperson insisted this week this was because the majority of families who asked for one did not live in the local authority area.

The spokesperson said: “We can confirm that there is no issue with the capacity at Kinross High School. Of the 38 placing requests made for Kinross High School, 36 were for pupils who do not live in Perth and Kinross local authority area.

“There is sufficient teaching staff at Kinross High School to accommodate the number of pupils who will be attending the school; and there are no plans to increase the staffing compliment to accommodate pupils from outwith the catchment area.

“The secondary school teaching staff budget is allocated across all secondary schools primarily to adequately staff secondary schools to meet the number of catchment pupils. If there is capacity within those staffing levels to accommodate placing requests, then these may be able to be granted.

“Where additional teaching staff would be required to accommodate pupils living outwith their catchment area, this constitutes a legal ground for the refusal of placing requests as placing requests may only be granted where there is no additional cost to the council.”

Last month PKC denied Kinross Primary School was experiencing problems with capacity after a number of people protesting Persimmon Homes’ latest planning application relating to its controversial Lathro Meadows development raised the issue online.

A spokesperson said at the time: “The impact of pupils from any housebuilding is reviewed on an annual basis along with the annual approval of reserved places.

“There are no issues with capacity at Kinross Primary School and no pupils have been refused admission to the school.”