Pupils face 20-mile trip to get to classes

Invergowrie children could have to travel 20 miles to high school after Dundee City Council revealed plans to change the catchment area for Harris Academy.

Currently, pupils in the village, which is part of Perth and Kinross rather than Dundee City, can attend Harris Academy in Dundee or Perth Academy.

But Dundee City Council now wants to realign Harris Academy’s feeder primary schools and redraw the boundary of its catchment area.

It means Invergowrie pupils would no longer automatically be eligible for a place at Harris Academy, although applications will still be considered on a caseby-case basis.

Instead, they will have to travel to Perth Academy, around 20 miles away.

Pupils who live in parts of Invergowrie that fall within Dundee City Council’s borders would still be eligible for places.

The new catchment area would be introduced in August if plans are approved by councillors next week.

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said there is a need to realign catchment areas across the city as some schools are over capacity while others are under.

One primary school, Victoria Park, does not even sit within its own catchment area.

Mr Alexander said: “If you look across the city there is capacity in primary and secondary. It’s relatively significant but, unfortunately, it isn’t even.

“We don’t want schools that are over capacity and one solution is realignment.”

Mr Alexander said the tri-council school planned for the Western Gateway had been a possible solution to the demand for places but its collapse has forced the council to rethink its plans.

He said: “I don’t want to be in a position where children have to go 20 miles in the opposite direction but the boundaries are where they are.”

Lochee Labour councillor Michael Marra said closing Menzieshill High School is responsible for the pressure on Harris Academy.

He said: “The legion of lies this SNP administration has told have caught up with them.”

Perth and Kinross Council was asked to comment.