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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jonathan Geddes

Row over Lanarkshire school boundary changes continues to rumble on

South Lanarkshire Council has denied "sidelining" parents over controversial boundary changes for schools in Lanarkshire.

Consultation closed last week regarding the zoning area for youngsters attending Newton Farm and Hallside Primary in Cambuslang.

Lanarkshire Live has previously told how Newton Farm primary is already at capacity, and although a seven classroom extension is being built, the local authority expect it will soon reach capacity even with the additional classrooms.

To try and solve the issue, council bosses have looked into altering the zoning area so that more pupils will be sent to under capacity Hallside Primary, taking effect from next year.

However, that has angered families living on certain streets, such as Lapwing Drive and Greylag Place, who moved there expecting their children would be going to Newton Farm alongside their pals from neighbouring streets, only to be find they could be re-zoned.

Those affected have claimed they have been given differing advice from the council when the matter has been raised with them - and that they were not told about the consultation to begin with.

One parent, who has responded to the consultation, told us: "It's been confusing in what we're being told. I know of other parents who have been told that pupils won't be able to transfer from Newton Farm to Uddingston Grammar in a few years time, but the council's own documents say otherwise.

"So much of the early consultation was done with parents whose children will still be able to go Newton Farm, not the parents actually affected. It's left the rest of us playing catch-up to it all. and we've been sidelined."

Another parent, responding to the consultation, aired similar concerns, pointing to the fact that residents in the homes affected by the move were not actually told about the consultation initially.

They wrote: "The initial proposal (which was submitted to the executive committee) was provided to members of the current school community, that will remain largely unaffected by said changes, and not those it will directly impact...

"Only after community contact with South Lanarkshire Council was it agreed the community affected would be rightly informed by means of a letter drop...

"It seems extremely unfair to exclude a small proportion of the community due to poor planning."

Halfway community council has also vocally protested against the moves.

In an online post, made before the consultation closed, they stated: "This will be the third time in four years that families in Westburn and Westfarm are forced to put their kids into different primary and high schools.

"Families are reserving and buying houses right now expecting their kids will go to the local primary and Uddingston.

"Newton farm primary is going to be over capacity in a few years time again even after they have built the extra seven classrooms and the council will be back forcing families to put their kids into schools outwith their community and some distance away.

"We need a new high school and much better school number planning."

The local authority stated that all pupils at Newton Farm, and their younger siblings, will be offered the chance to move to Uddingston Grammar for secondary school.

They added that they wished to hear from all parents affected.

Lynn Sherry, head of education, said: “We highlighted in the consultation document, that current Newton Farm Primary pupils will be able to transition to Uddingston Grammar right up to and including session 2027/28 when the current P1 intake will have reached P7.

"During that same timescale, younger siblings due to enrol whilst their older sibling is still a Newton Farm primary pupil will also be able to attend Newton Farm Primary School and transition to Uddingston Grammar School.

"The council has invited views and comments on the proposals at public meetings and through the proposal document that was issued on 25 October, using various methods including an online response form, telephone number, email address and virtual public meetings, as we genuinely want to hear from parents/carers and families.

"The feedback will be shared with Education Scotland who will consider the views expressed and thereafter the council will produce an outcome report that will be published prior to the executive committee for consideration and decision."

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