Proposal to Reserve Spaces for Catchment Children at Three Primary Schools
North Ayrshire Council · 3 June 2025
Back to Cabinet — 3 June 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 3 June 2025 Cabinet Title: Proposal to Reserve Spaces for Catchment Children at Three Primary Schools Purpose: • To provide information to Cabinet on the rolls at Fairlie, Mayfield and Montgomerie Park Primary Schools • To seek approval to reserve up to 2 places at each year group stage of these primary schools for incoming catchment pupils from academic session 2025-26 Recommendation: That Cabinet agrees to: • The creation of up to 2 reserved places at each year group stage at Fairlie, Mayfield and Montgomerie Park Primary Schools for incoming catchment pupils. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 This report provides information on the pupil rolls at Fairlie, Mayfield and Montgomerie Park Primary Schools and sets out a proposal to reserve up to 2 places at each year group stage for pupils who live within the catchment areas of these schools in order to maximise the efficient management of pupil numbers at these schools in particular, in light of the current and projected pressures on catchment places, for example as a result of house building. 2. Background 2.1 The Education (Scotland) Act 1996 Placing Requests Part IV: Section 33, allows Education authorities to reserve places for incoming pupils to school catchment areas. This supports education authorities to better manage available school places, enabling pupils to be accommodated at their catchment school where possible. 2.2 Section 28A (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (as amended) provides a general principle that, ‘so far as is compatible with the provision of suitable instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents’. The Education Service is committed to ensuring that parents who submit a “placing request” to have their child educated at a school other than their catchment school are accommodated where possible, however it is also important to take measures to ensure that new incoming pupils can be accommodated within their catchment schools.
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2.3 Acceptance of placing request applications up to the capacity of a school year stage can result in there being no places left at that stage for new incoming catchment pupils. This is particularly relevant for schools located in areas with a significant number of new homes being built and can result in catchment pupils being redirected to the nearest school outwith their catchment area with places available. If the alternative primary school is over 2 miles away from their home address, then the pupil will be entitled to school transport funded by the Council. Based on this, there are currently 3 impacted primary schools where pre-emptive action is recommended: a. Fairlie Primary b. Mayfield Primary c. Montgomerie Park Primary 2.4 Fairlie Primary pupil roll has risen from 73 in 2018 to 108 (5 classes) in August 2024. The roll is projected to be 120 (6 classes) from August 2025. This increasing roll can be partially attributed to incoming children from the 86 new homes being built adjacent to the school, as well as a decline in the number of families living in the village registering for a denominational school. Of the current 108 children, 16 are placing requests into Fairlie Primary School. 2.5 Mayfield Primary has a current pupil roll of 192 pupils (8 classes). 42% of pupils on the school roll live within the catchment area, with 58% attending as a result of a successful placing request. Adjacent to the school, there is a new housing development of 49 homes, with a further 231 homes due to become occupied over the next 9 years. In October 2024, Cabinet agreed to limit the Primary 1 intake number at Mayfield Primary School to 25, to leave space for the roll to expand in future years to accommodate catchment children from the new homes. This proposal to reserve places at each year group stage further supports Cabinet’s previous decision. 2.6 Montgomerie Park Primary opened in August 2024 with 79 pupils (5 classes). The pupil roll is now over 100, with a projected roll of 154 (8 classes) planned from August 2025. 33% of the current roll are placing requests accommodating pupils from outwith the school catchment area and there are a further 21 placing requests into Primary 1 from August 2025. The total Primary 1 intake from August 2025 is 55 pupils. The Education Service will submit an additional report to Cabinet (prior to registration for the 26/27 academic session) with a specific proposal for the future management of the Primary 1 intake numbers at Montgomerie Park Primary. With further significant house building due to continue within the school’s catchment area, it would be prudent to reserve places throughout the school for children moving into this catchment area. 2.7 This proposal aims to manage capacity effectively at all three schools and attempts to ensure that spaces remain for pupils to attend their catchment school. In determining the number of places to reserve, the following factors were taken into account: a) The school’s current capacity and roll b) The predicted demand for catchment places at the school in future years c) The current and predicted number of placing requests at the school 2.8 The number of reserved places required for a school can be affected by pupils moving into and out of the area, as well as late and withdrawn placing request applications. This means that demand for places in a school can change before the new academic year begins. The required number of reserved places outlined in this report reflects our planning assumptions for academic session 2025-26.
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2.9 Pupil numbers for session 2025-26 at the three most affected schools as outlined above are already tight. If this proposal is approved, it may not be possible to reserve places at every year stage immediately, based on current numbers. In such cases, the service would introduce the reserved places following any pupil movement at that year stage. 2.10 The service will monitor pupil numbers closely to ensure this proposal remains appropriate and fit for purpose. 3. Proposals 3.1 That Cabinet agrees to: • Allow the Education Service to reserve up to 2 places at each year stage at Fairlie, Mayfield and Montgomerie Park Primary Schools for incoming catchment pupils 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 The proposal aims to ensure that there are sufficient places for incoming children to attend their catchment school, therefore reducing the potential transport and staffing costs of them being educated elsewhere. Human Resources 4.2 None arising directly from this report. Legal 4.3 The Education Authority is under a statutory duty to manage its education estate effectively to ensure that there is adequate capacity to meet demand, and the Education Authority is under a duty to provide adequate and efficient education in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act. Relevant legislation has been considered in formulating the proposal, as has the Scottish Government guidance in respect of determining Primary School capacity. The proposal reflects Council policy in as far as it promotes the opportunity for children to attend their local school. Council policy will be adhered to in respect of admissions, with catchment children being given priority. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The key aim of this proposal is to provide children with a place at the primary school nearest their home, where they can be educated alongside other children within their local community. Climate Change and Carbon
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4.5 The proposal supports walking to school, therefore reduces any impact to the environment from transport emissions. Key Priorities 4.6 Active and strong communities Children and young people experience the best start in life Inclusive, growing and enterprising local economy Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. 5. Consultation 5.1 Consultation has taken place with the Education Portfolio Holder. At this time, there is ongoing engagement with the Head Teachers of the 3 primary schools specifically affected by this paper. Andrew McClelland Chief Education Officer, Head of Service (Education) For further information please contact Andrew McClelland, Head of Service (Education) , on 01294 324413. Background Papers http://north-ayrshire.cmis.uk.com/north- ayrshire/CommitteesMeetings/Decisions/tabid/67/ctl/ViewCMIS_DecisionDetails/mid/391/Id /11f4c491-2465-4b4d-bc17-c34285b9fb08/Default.aspx