The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Parents propose ways to save rural primaries
Parent council believes catchment changes would boost funding for threatened schools
Parents believe Perth and Kinross Council is turning its back on tens of thousands of pounds of government funding in its haste to close schools and save money.
The claim has been made by campaigners fighting to save Abernyte Primary School – one of those whose future is threatened by the council’s estates review.
Its parent council believes removing the catchment constraints that have strangled class sizes would enable the local authority to increase the rural school funding it receives.
That could mean sums of as much as £120,000 becoming available from the Scottish Government if the council were to work with the community on improving class sizes.
The futures of 10 Perth and Kinross primary schools are currently under consideration, including others in rural areas.
The Abernyte parents’ proposal has been backed by Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart who has urged the council to call a halt to its estates review.
He said: “Having spoken to parents from the parent council in Abernyte, I fully understand their concerns about the future of the school.
“I would support anything that could be done to expand the catchment area in order to raise future pupil numbers at the school.”
The school community has prepared a document for the review process in which it sets out its concerns. It has been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.
The parent group writes: “It is our view that there has been active neglect, coupled with poor planning, to allow these difficulties to arise for Abernyte School. The school roll has been falling because of demographic changes and a restricted catchment area but we believe Abernyte School can be part of a longterm school capacity plan for the Carse of Gowrie.
“Our proposal is that the catchments for Abernyte and the surrounding areas are reviewed and amended to provide a more even distribution of school pupils.
“By doing this there could be greater flexibility in the school provision in the Carse, one able to adapt to population increase.”
The parent council obtained figures from education chiefs which show the potential school roll is around 40 children – equating to 90% capacity.
The Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education document on rural school funding 2013 sets out that an approximately £3,000 per pupil supplement is paid by the Scottish Government to councils to sustain smaller rural schools. If the school roll was therefore increased to 40, the parent council believes this would represent £120,000 extra income to Perth and Kinross Council.
I would support anything that could be done to expand the catchment area in order to raise future pupil numbers at the school. PETE WISHART MP