Council facing legal threat over ‘discrimination’
THE PARENT group of a Catholic primary school in Oban have threatened Argyll and Bute Council with legal action for ‘discrimination’, after it denied pupils seats on the school bus.
The MacGregor family from Ardconnel Farm have attended St Columba’s Primary School for generations without difficulty, until 10 years ago when they learnt the council had reduced the school’s catchment area, denying their children free transport to their nearest Catholic school. Since then they have paid the council thousands of pounds to take their two daughters to school on the bus.
But earlier this month the council told the MacGregors there was no longer space for their daughters or three other St Columba’s pupils, because they were being given a ‘privileged’ ride. Other children in the area are entitled to the seats free, because they attend another primary school in the same building.
Maggie Anderson, Roman Catholic representative on Argyll and Bute Council’s community services committee, told councillors on the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee: ‘We believe Catholic education is being discriminated against.’
Helen McGuigan, chairwoman of St Columba’s Primary School Parent Council, said its campaign to reinstate the catchment area has been resisted by the council: ‘For every reason, the parent council has proved facts and evidence that their excuses are invalid. Then last week Ann Marie Knowles, the council’s acting executive director of community services, told parents, ‘‘There has been no material change in circumstances. Therefore, there will be no review of the catchment area for St Columba’s Primary School’’.’
Ms McGuigan added: ‘We are also in contact with the Scottish Catholic Education Service legal team and are working towards starting legal action against the council on grounds of discrimination.’
Bishop Brian McGee of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles said: ‘I hope the council will work with the parents of St Columba’s to ensure this situation can be resolved amicably.’