Parents praised as school deal set for approval

£4.2m proposal is relief for Invergowrie families

The recommendation to agree a £4.2 million proposal to allow Invergowrie pupils to continue attending their secondary education at Harris Academy has been welcomed.

Dundee City councillors were set to agree to Perth and Kinross Council’s ambitious proposal at their children and family services committee meeting yesterday evening (October 25).

The development brings huge relief to Invergowrie families as their children will avoid a 40-mile round bus journey to a Perth secondary school.

Dundee City Council has been reviewing the realignment of the catchment a reas of Harris Academy’s feeder schools since the start of 2020, with the headline recommendation to axe Invergowrie Primary School as an associate.

The PA then revealed the multi- million pound proposal last month, with

PKC councillors giving it their backing at a full council meeting on October 6.

The sum will contribute towards an extension at Harris to help accommodate Invergowrie pupils at the Perth Road school.

Dundee City Council will continue to cover the revenue costs.

Carse of Gowrie ward councillor Angus Forbes said: “I am delighted to see that the recommendation is for the committee to accept the arrangement with Perth and Kinross Council.

“This will allow children f rom Invergowr ie to continue their education at Harris Academy.

“Over the past two years we have worked very hard to find a solution to this problem and I am really pleased that this would appear to be it.

“During that period, I have worked with the parents to keep this matter in the eyes of the decision makers by running public meetings, talking to Dundee Council committee, meeting councillor Stewart Hunter ( Dundee educat i o n convener), and doing a mass leaflet drop across the area.”

“I am very grateful to the parents who helped to make this happen.

“This is their victory and it shows that when a community really get behind an issue there is always a solution.

“Four million pounds is a substantial sum of money and at a time when council budgets are stretched to breaking point, I am delighted that my colleagues on Perth and Kinross Council agreed to commit this money to the children in my ward.”

It shows that when a community really get behind an issue there is always a solution