Joshua King
Councillors are expected to back a major reshuffle of school catchment areas in Aberdeenshire’s biggest town today.
A raft of proposals to redraw the map for the Peterhead primary network will be discussed at the first Buchan area committee of 2015.
All 10 schools in the town could be affected if councillors approve the education service’s recommendations.
Only two have a suitable number of pupils for their size at present, and a public consultation launched on September 1 has shown widespread support from parents.
In a report to the committee, the local authority’s education chief Maria Walker says: “There are significant developments planned, and underway across the Peterhead network. These will generate new communities and extend existing ones.
“These proposals will help ensure that adequate educational facilities are available to the communities as the developments progress.”
Parents at the town’s Central School voted 65% in favour of change, and fewer than 4% of parents at Port Erroll voted to maintain the status quo.
The council has recommended that the boundary between Burnhaven and Meethill schools remains unchanged, in line with consultation findings.
A similar consultation process is underway in Fraserburgh, and last week Aberdeenshire Council announced plans to consult with Portlethen residents on the construction of a new school in the town’s Hillside area.
There are no plans to build an additional school in Peterhead as figures show there is enough space across the network for all pupils, if the catchment areas are redrawn.
Education officers have assured parents that change will happen “gradually” and no pupils would be forced to move to a new school. The plans would only affect youngsters moving into the area, or entering primary one.
The proposals could come into effect in time for the beginning of the 2015-16 academic year on August 17.