A Perth school looks set to be saved from the threat of closure.
Ruthvenfield Primary School’s future hung in the balance as part of a catchment review relating to the new school being built at Bertha Park.
The historic school building looked in danger of being closed with one option being explored seeing Ruthvenfield PS pupils moving to the new building at Bertha Park.
But a report being put before councillors next week has recommended Ruthvenfield PS continue in its existing building - with a new catchment area - and a new school will be built at Bertha Park.
The report comes after an informal pre-consultation earlier this year.
Due to major building in the area PKC has seen a need for a new primary school to “accommodate the significant number of children and young people likely to live in these new houses.”
But it now seems that this new school will not come at the cost of an old school being lost to the community.
The recommendation is that Ruthvenfield Primary School continue operating from its existing building with improvement works to upgrade the historic building and a new catchment area will be created for the school.
On Wednesday, August 25 PKC’s lifelong learning committee will be asked to approve this recommendation.
Lifelong learning committee convener, Councillor Caroline Shiers said: “The population of Perth and Kinross, and therefore of our schools, continues to grow.
“With these major housing projects in the offing, we have to consider our capacity to meet the educational needs of children and young people into the future.
“I am pleased that families took the time to respond.
“If committee approves the recommendations we would then move on to statutory consultation on this option, which also provides some additional reassurance for the school community at Ruthvenfield, something I am sure they will welcome.”
Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, told the Perthshire Advertiser that he was “relieved” at the news.
He previously requested a guarantee from PKC that the school remain open if that was the desire of the pupils and parents at Ruthvenfield.
He said: “I am pleased and relieved to see that Perth and Kinross Council have now dropped the option that considered the closure of Ruthvenfield Primary School, not least because the Tories have form on this front - only last year the Scottish Government had to overturn their attempts to permanently close Abernyte Primary School.
“Like local parents, I will now watch with interest for details of the proposed new catchment areas and the improvements to Ruthvenfield.”
