FAMILIES facing uncertainty as to where their children will go to high school after the summer have been urged to get any placement requests in as soon as they can.

A total of 95 children were told just before Christmas that they did not have a place at Woodmill High and were allocated a place at Inverkeithing High.

However, they were given a glimmer of hope last week when education committee convener Councillor Fay Sinclair told the Press they were looking at getting children into their preferred second-choice schools such as Dunfermline or Queen Anne High schools.

Across Dunfermline, children from 13 primary schools have been told they have a place at Inverkeithing High including 25 from Masterton Primary, 16 each from Carnegie and Duloch, 13 from Canmore and 11 from Pitreavie Primary.

With some movement expected due to placing requests, the number of children not being able to secure a place at Woodmill is expected to be between 50 and 70.

Fife Council made the decision to offer all 95 children places together – despite them being from several schools – so their high school transition can be handled as a group.

Although Queen Anne High is thought to have capacity at present, its role is projected to increase because of housebuilding in the area while Inverkeithing has the capacity to take all the affected pupils and, potentially, their siblings, who will move to high school in the future.

Head of education and children’s services, Shelagh McLean, has been attending meetings of worried parents to answer questions and said: “We understand that this is a difficult situation for pupils and parents and the recent meetings have been worthwhile in helping us both to hear the concerns directly and to assure those affected of the options and support available,” she said. 

“All pupils have automatically been added to the waiting list for a place at Woodmill High School and for those who would like to submit a placing request for either Dunfermline High School or Queen Anne High School, the deadline is March 15. 

“We are, however, encouraging parents to submit any such request as soon as possible. 

"It’s also important to note that some of the pupils offered a place at Woodmill will also be submitting placement requests for other schools. This may free up some additional places at Woodmill High School. 

“As soon as we can, we will assess these requests and work to accommodate as many of the pupils as we possibly can in Woodmill HS or the next school of their choice.”