Catchment area changes approved
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Garioch councillors have approved changes to primary school catchment areas in Inverurie during todays Garioch area committee meeting at Woodhill House in Aberdeen.
Following a statutory consultation period, all responses were assessed and a recommendation by council officers was made to approve the proposed future catchment areas for Inverurie’s three primary schools, Kellands, Strathburn and Uryside respectively.
The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 requires that local authorities undertake a formal consultation process whenever changes are proposed to the location or catchment area of a school, or when a school is being considered for closure.
Three options regarding the rezoning of the primary schools in Inverurie were consulted upon, with one option retaining the status-quo.
The other two propose changes to the catchment areas include a rezoning of the area adjacent to North Street from Uryside School to Strathburn School and a rezoning of the area in between Blackhall Road and Middlemuir Road to Strathburn School from Kellands School.
As well as this, a rezoning of the area north-west of Blackhall Road/Westburn from Kellands School to Strathburn School will also take place, alongside other rezoning to Kellands School from Uryside School.
In the report presented to councillors it stated: ‘Some of the schools within the cluster are operating close to capacity which results in less space being available for pupils and imposes restrictions in delivering the curriculum.
‘The proposed changes address the issues to an extent and over time will provide the additional learning space for pupils in schools.
“The zoning options should also help consolidate what is happening in practice at each of the three schools through out of zone placing request.
“Currently a large number of families are submitting placing requests to Strathburn School and Kellands School from a concentrated area of the town currently zoned to Uryside School.”
At the meeting, councillors supported the proposals, but there was concern that the boundary needs to be aligned with the railway line, so that children in the town centre do not attend the further away Uryside School.
However, despite these concerns, councillors were told that no representations were received during the consultation period about this and were told that redoing this would take up most of next year.
East Garioch councillor, Councillor Martin Ford was sceptical about starting the consultation again and said: “I’m not overwhelmed with enthusiasm with doing this whole thing again”.
Inverurie and District member, councillor Marion Ewenson said: “We have to get this right”, whilst Inverurie councillor, councillor Lesley Berry commented: “I think parents want some stability”.
Councillor Judy Whyte of Inverurie and District said “I’m quite happy to support the recommendations”, but she also said that it needs to be looked at in 12 months or so, with regards to the town centre boundaries.
Councillor Berry put forward a motion to support the recommendation and this was supported by West Garioch member, councillor Victoria Harper.
An amendment was made by Councillor Ewenson to support the recommendation, but review the section along the railway line in a year and was seconded by Councillor Whyte.
The amendment was carried by 11 votes, whilst the motion received two.
Their recommendation will now go to Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services committee on Thursday recommending that the proposal is approved, with the amendment.
If approved, siblings of existing pupils will be entitled to attend the same school, therefore keeping families together, whilst no children currently attending the schools will be forced to move school
Also, the proposal has no impact on nursery placements, as there are no catchment areas for nurseries.
This report was previously considered by the Garioch area committee last month, but the committee deferred the item to December 3, to allow further discussions to take place at a ward meeting.
