Plans to determine the catchment area for the proposed new primary school at Bertha Park in Perth are set to be presented this week.

At a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday 25 August 2021, councillors will hear the results of informal pre-consultation carried out earlier this year on an options appraisal relating to the new school's catchment, which also took into account the future operation of neighbouring Ruthvenfield Primary School.


With major nearby housing developments expected to progress in the medium-term, the new primary school is required to accommodate the significant number of children and young people likely to live in these new houses.
The report outlines that the favoured option was to establish a catchment area for the new primary school, to be built on a site adjacent to Bertha Park High School. In addition, it indicates that Ruthvenfield Primary School should continue operating from its existing building, with the carrying out of improvement works, and creation of a new catchment area for it.



The Committee will be asked to agree that this option is taken forward for statutory consultation on establishing the new primary school, and the new catchments for both it and Ruthvenfield Primary School.


Lifelong Learning 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."