School catchment review

Jan 20 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian Council’s Education Executive have approved plans to work in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council on a catchment review of Roman Catholic primary schools with catchment areas which cross council boundaries.

The move is to manage increasing pupil numbers generated by the allocated housing developments in the Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan.

Major house building has started in Kirkliston and is also planned for Newbridge and Ratho.

Executive councillor for education Andrew Miller, said: “There is a need to undertake a catchment area review of the denominational primary schools, and related denominational secondary school arrangements in the east of West Lothian to take account of demographic changes arising from housing allocations specified in the Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan.

“West Lothian Council will work in partnership with the City of Edinburgh to undertake a catchment review simultaneously to avoid duplication and confusion for stakeholders, and limit costs.”

Currently denominational primary schools in the east of West Lothian have catchment areas that include parts of the City of Edinburgh Council area.

And denominational primary schools in the west of the City of Edinburgh have catchment areas that include parts of West Lothian.

The consultation will begin Wednesday, February 2 and finish on Friday, March 25, with the consultation report to be published later this year.