North-east school roll limits to be increased

Ina · North-east school roll limits to be increased

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:09 pm

NORTH-EAST SCHOOL ROLL LIMITS TO BE INCREASED

www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk

School admissions will rise to cope with a population boom from increased housing in Aberdeenshire.

Councillors yesterday agreed the annually-set changes for eight academies in the region.

Members of the education and recreation committee, however, raised concern that schools were "bursting at the seams".

Limits for admissions at Kemnay Academy will rise from 100 to 140.

Officials said this was necessary because of a housing boom in towns with feeder schools, such as Kintore and Blackburn.

The official capacity at Kemnay is 600, but the school roll is forecast to reach 660 in the 2007/8 session.

The capacity figures do not take into account temporary accommodation, which will alleviate the burden.

Councillors agreed last week to an extension at the school and to allow a two-storey temporary unit to cope with more pupils.

The affected schools are at Aboyne, Alford, Banchory, Kemnay, Mackie, Mearns, Meldrum and Turriff. Most of the schools will have rises by about 20 pupils, although at Aboyne the school will see an increase from 100 to 150.

Banchory councillor Jill Webster said: "We're way over capacity. Our schools are bursting at the seams."