EDUCATION chiefs have proposed to increase the capacity of primary schools by over 350 places to coincide with Glasgow’s rising population.

Glasgow City Council’s executive committee is set to decide on increasing the capping limit on schools for primary schools.

With the current cap at a maximum of 25 pupils per primary one class some schools could see whole class-worth’s of additions.

It comes as the primary-school aged population in the city is expected to rise between 13 and 18 per cent over the next 10 years, according to the council.

The proposals to be considered were brought forward by a report by Liz Cameron, the executive member for children, young people and lifelong learning.

The outcome is hoped to placate the expected rise in numbers of pupils attending schools within the Glasgow area without leaving schools overcrowded.

In the report she said: “In response to the predicted growth in the school age population across the city over the coming decade and beyond, there is a need to manage the education estate effectively at both strategic and operational levels to ensure that there is adequate capacity to meet the changing demand for places in the city’s primary and secondary schools.”

The recommendation being put forward by the councillor is to increase the P1 capping limits across the majority of primary schools within the city’s catchment area whilst maintaining the current S1 cap.

The capping increases range from just a couple of places to as many as 37 with the report stating each school’s pupil numbers taken in to consideration.

One primary school which could see a drop in capping limit is Hillhead Primary which has experienced overcrowding issues.

Ms Cameron added: “The council places a priority on local children being accommodated in their local schools.

“Families can move areas within the city or move in to the city between registration and August.

“Therefore, there may be times when education services has to review the cap to ensure that catchment children are accommodated in their local schools where this is possible.

“Primary one capping in primary schools will contribute to ensuring that they do not become overcrowded and/or require the use of temporary accommodation in the short term and enable the council to plan and manage the primary estate efficiently over the medium and long term.

“If primary one intakes are not capped this can lead to the requirement to create additional classes where there is an absolute limit on the number of classrooms available.”

The proposal says the new cap limits will help minimise the need to extend schools to allay demand for places or the need to employ additional staff.

In 2014 guidance from the Scottish Government was used by the local authority to determine the capacity of primary schools after the issue of overcrowding in schools across Glasgow, as well as the rest of the country, was noticed.

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