Council set to review Ayr school catchments

Feb 6 2009 by Stuart Wilson

SCHOOL catchment areas could be overhauled as part of a council review.

An increase in placing requests from frustrated parents has led to the study.

Council officers will now look at better ways to zone pupils for their schools, mainly within Ayr.

And it’s hoped a better plan can be mapped out for kids currently travelling longer distances than they need to.

Councillor Ian Douglas said: “We have a brand new Belmont Academy which children could easily stand and throw a cricket ball into from their garden, yet they’re not allowed to attend that school.

“You get buses driving past Kyle Academy just to reach Belmont and the zoning system is a mess.

“I’ve put in two placing requests this week alone for parents and it’s happening all the time.

“It’s a totally ridiculous situation to be bussing in children from afar to schools when we can look at the zoning and surely sort something out.”