Placing Requests
The policy of Perth & Kinross Council Education Authority is
to assign to each school a defined zone known as a catchment
area. Each home address has a catchment school for both
primary and secondary education. The catchment schools are
dependant on pupils' home address. Although we try to provide
enough places for all children in the catchment area to attend the
catchment school, living within a catchment area does not guarantee
a child a place at that school.
In accordance with the provisions of the legislation, parents have
a right to make a request that their child be placed in a school of
their choice other than the school which normally serves the
catchment area in which they reside. Parents' wishes will be
met where possible. If the number of places in any particular
school is limited, priority for admissions shall be determined on
the following basis:
Priority 1
Children normally resident within the catchment
area of the specified school.
Where the number of requests for admission to the specified school
by children normally resident within the catchment area exceeds the
number of places available, then priority will be determined as
follows:
(a) Children having a brother or sister (or relative
permanently living at the same address as part of an extended
family*) in attendance at the same school.
(b) Thereafter places will be allocated according to
the single criterion of distance from the specified school, with
priority being given to those whose normal place of residence is
closest to the school.
NB Within denominational schools places will be allocated
first to children who have been baptised in the appropriate faith,
ie (Roman Catholic and Episcopal Church)
Priority 2
Children not normally resident within the catchment area of the
specified school, but having a brother or sister (or relative
permanently living at the same address as part of an extended
family*) in attendance at that school.
*provided that the member of the extended family for whom
the placing request has been made has lived within that extended
family for a period of at least 2 years.
Priority 3
Children not normally resident within the catchment area of the
specified school and having no brothers or sisters in attendance at
that school.
In relation to Priorities 2 and 3, when it is necessary to refuse
only some places because the number of requests exceeds the number
of places available, priority will be determined as follows:
(a) between children within Priority 2, priority will
be determined by distance from the specified school, with priority
being given to children whose normal place of residence is closest
to the specified school.
(b) between children within Priority 3, priority will
be determined by the single criterion of distance from the school,
with priority being given to children whose normal place of
residence is closest to the specified school.
Placement may be recommended within a special school or provision
when a child's education needs cannot be met in their catchment
school. This will be based upon the assessment of the child's
education needs by their parents, teacher, school medical officer
and education psychologist.
The Authority may also determine that particular pupils are to be
placed in any school in order to meet specific educational or other
exceptional needs, as determined by the Authority. These
placements will take priority over any of the 3 priorities
above.
Placing requests will normally be granted except where there
are circumstance defined in the Act which justify the Authority's
refusal of such a request. If a placing request is refused,
parents can lodge an Appeal in writing which would then be
heard by an Appeals Committee.
Parents who have made successful placing requests for their
children at other schools of their choice have to make their own
transport arrangements and meet the costs thereof.
Any pupil who attends a primary school other than the one
proposed by the Authority (ie as a result of a placing request) and
who is due to transfer to a secondary school will be offered a
place at the secondary school in whose catchment area he/she
lives.
Craigie Primary School
Following the redelineation of the catchment areas
affecting Craigie Primary School, Lifelong Learning Committee
approved in August 2008 the revision of the
School Admission Policy (Report 08/399) [pdf 980KB]
refers. It has been determined that where requested, and it
is possible to do so, younger siblings of current pupils who reside
in the catchment area as it existed prior to August 2008 will be
allocated a place at Craigie Primary School. The priority
categories for Craigie Primary School will therefore differ
from the normal priorities as follows:
Category 1
Pupils in the new catchment area for Craigie Primary School (as
defined in August 2008).
Category 2a
Younger siblings of pupils currently attending Craigie Primary
School who live within the Craigie Primary School catchment area as
it existed prior to August 2008 where requested by their
parents.
Category 2b
Pupils living outwith the Craigie Primary School catchment area
as it existed prior to August 2008 with older siblings currently
attending Craigie Primary School.
Category 3
Pupils living outwith the current or former Craigie Primary
School catchment area with no older siblings currently attending
Craigie Primary School.
Category 2a applies to younger siblings who will be in attendance
at Craigie Primary School in August 2008 and thereafter. For
the avoidance of doubt, a younger sibling must have an elder
sibling who will be a pupil within Craigie Primary School when they
are due to start in P1. This category does not apply to
younger siblings where elder siblings have left Craigie Primary
School in previous years and no elder sibling is currently in
attendance.
If it is necessary to refuse only some places within any one of the
above categories, priorities will be determined by distance from
the school, with priority being given to children whose normal
place of residence is closest to Craigie Primary School.
How can I find out more information?
Placing Request Application Forms [pdf60KB] and
guidance booklet [pdf 478KB] may be downloaded from the
internet, obtained from the Headteacher of the school or:
Education & Children's Services
Pullar House
35 Kinnoull Street
Perth
PH1 5GD
Tel: 01738 476200
Email: ecsschools@pkc.gov.uk
