The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Parents face longer wait for Carse pupils decision
Harris Academy boundaries review put back to January
A decision on a Dundee school catchment area shake-up that could consign Carse of Gowrie pupils to a twohour bus ride to school in Perth and back will be delayed until at least January.
Dundee City Council is considering changing the Harris Academy boundaries in a review of the school’s feeder primaries.
One option is to send Invergowrie Primary School pupils to a secondary school in Perth instead.
The village is in Perth and Kinross Council area but is located much closer to Dundee and the current arrangement has been in place for many years.
A consultation on the move was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown, meaning the entire decisionmaking process has had to be shoved back.
Carse Conservative councillor Angus Forbes, who is against the proposed change, said the delay meant more uncertainty for families.
“While this gives the community extra time to campaign against the proposal, it does also just lengthen the period of uncertainty,” he said.
“The sad thing is that this decision will be taken by people who are not elected by the parents of the children who will be affected and I would urge politicians in Dundee of all political colours to find a way to continue to allow Invergowrie children to attend Harris.”
Mr Forbes added: “As a Harris former pupil myself, I know first hand the benefits that children from Invergowrie bring to the school.
“I met some of my best friends from Invergowrie when I was at Harris.”
Dundee City Council’s SNP education convener Stewart Hunter said he understood the anxiety.
“I have a lot of sympathy for parents and pupils with regards the added uncertainty caused by the delays,” he said.
“Had it not been for the pandemic a decision would have been made by now and everyone would have known where they stood.
“Unfortunately, we had to pause the consultation while we were in lockdown.
“While the consultation has now restarted, legislation requires us to follow specific timescales in how we proceed, so that this cannot be sped up.
“However, we are committed to bringing this to committee as soon as we can.”
I know first hand the benefits that children from Invergowrie bring to the school. COUNCILLOR ANGUS FORBES