The catchment area for an Oban primary school is likely to be changed to take in pupils from a small island in the town’s bay.
Currently children from Kerrera, less than a mile from the mainland, are in the zone designated to attend Rockfield Primary School on Soroba Road.
The four primary-aged pupils from the island currently attend Park Primary School on Kerrera Terrace, as a result of placement requests because it is closer to the North Pier, where they get off the ferry.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Oban Lorn and the Isles committee set the ball in motion today following a request for re-zoning from Kerrera parents and Park Parent Council.
James Helbert, area education officer for Oban Lorn and the Isles, said: “The education authority received a request from members of the community of Kerrera and Park Parent Council to look into re-zoning Kerrera so it falls into the catchment area of Park as opposed to Rockfield Primary School.
“We received a letter from Park Parent Council making the request. Then Rockfield wrote to say it is in the best interests of the children of Kerrera to go to Park rather than Rockfield for logistical reasons.
“This is a historical situation from when Kerrera Primary School was closed. At that point children were attending the older Rockfield Prmary School site in the town centre.
“What we are asking is that we can take this to the full council so we can then take forward a consultation which would involve six weeks of information-seeking from the community. The responses will then form a report for Education Scotland and the full council.”
Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said: “It is sensible that children from Kerrera should be going to Park school.”
Councillor Roddy McCuish, chairman of the area committee, said: “It is good that both parent councils are in agreement with this.
“I know it seems clumsy that it has to go to the council and has to go out to consultation, but that is the legislation, there are no short cuts.”