A new primary school at Bertha Park looks set to get the green light from councillors at a meeting this week.
Officers have recommended Perth and Kinross Council’s learning and families committee approve the new primary school and changes to the catchment areas of nearby schools.
The new primary school in Perth would be scheduled to open in August 2026.
The committee will meet tomorrow to consider the proposals relating to the establishment of a new school on the housing development west of Perth.
Following consultation, councillors have also been asked to approve changes to the catchment areas of Ruthvenfield Primary School, Pitcairn Primary, Luncarty Primary and Tulloch Primary.
85% against closure
Neighbouring Ruthvenfield Primary has been threatened with closure.
The option proved unpopular with the majority – 85% – of parents/carers who responded to a public consultation.
And in August 2021 Perth and Kinross Council’s then lifelong learning committee unanimously voted to keep Ruthvenfield open with a new catchment area and to upgrade its Victorian building.
There is a 30-year masterplan for housebuilding at Almond Valley, Bertha Park and Perth West.
Over the next 10 years 2,512 houses are expected to be built generating roughly 678 primary school pupils.
The report – going before councillors on Wednesday – explains how the new primary would have capacity for 434 pupils with 14 classrooms but “would not open initially with this number of pupils or classes”.
Capacity could be temporarily increased
Ruthvenfield has three classes but has an additional classroom that could be used.
Its approved capacity is 91 pupils but councillors have been told this “could be temporarily increased to 100 pupils, if necessary, to accommodate catchment pupils”.
Pitcairn does not have any unused classrooms and “would potentially require temporary accommodation on site if capacity were to be breached before 2026”.
Pupils attending Pitcairn but living in the proposed catchment for the new school in Bertha Park would then have the option to either move to the new primary school in 2026 or to remain at Pitcairn.
The council has pledged to undertake a detailed feasibility study of the potential temporary accommodation which might be needed at Pitcairn.
Building work dates
Building work on the new primary school and nursery at Bertha Park is expected to start in November 2024 and be completed in June 2026.
Registration for the new school would begin in January 2026.
Conversation