Fife Council has been urged to seriously consider the need for new secondary schools in Dunfermline as capacity issues show no sign of easing.
The demand was made yesterday as councillors met to discuss the impact of a decision to delay changes to school catchment areas for a year.
The move means up to 50 primary seven pupils are unlikely to be able to start at Woodmill High as expected in 2018.
Education officers are working to find an urgent solution to the problem but have warned it will be extremely challenging.
Councillors last month rejected plans to send youngsters from Masterton Primary to Inverkeithing High rather than Woodmill, which will be over-capacity for several years as things stand.
The decision followed a backlash from angry parents who did not want their children bussed out of Dunfermline and separated from older siblings.
However, the move has caused uncertainty for families across much of west Fife and left officials with a massive headache.
Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie said: “We really need to start thinking seriously about new schools for Dunfermline.”
An alternative proposal, looking to rezone addresses for those in the Tulliallan, Torryburn, Limekilns, Canmore, Pitreavie and Commercial primary catchment areas, will be put before the education and children’s services committee in January.
While this will not solve the capacity issues at Woodmill, it would ensure P7 pupils in the affected areas know by August 2018 which secondary school they will attend from the following year.
Education committee convener Fay Sinclair said: “The committee was unanimous in our decision at the last meeting, and today, that we didn’t want children from Masterton bussed to a school outwith Dunfermline.
“We understood this would mean further uncertainty for some parents and pupils due to transition to Woodmill but we did not feel able to agree to consult with communities on the proposals which had been set before us.”
She added: “We appreciate the urgency but at the same time feel it is better to take time to reach the right decision.
“Any changes will affect children across the Dunfermline and south west Fife area and we have a duty to make sure that those changes are properly thought through.”
Councillor Sinclair said it was recognised some children may be upset by the uncertainty and pledged the council would work closely with them to help them deal with the changes.
