Class sizes: 'City just can't accommodate all parents' wishes'

Published on Tuesday 16 June 2009 09:11

ALL parents naturally want the best for their children. So it is no surprise that record numbers are attempting to have them placed in what they regard as better schools.

Last year the city council received a record number of requests from parents for transfers. Four out of ten wanted their children to start first year in an alternative primary school and one third in a secondary outwith their recognised catchment area. Although the council did its best to accommodate them only a little more than half were successful in each category.

Today we report that one group of parents who were initially turned down have won their appeal against the council's decision not to allow them to attend Sciennes Primary. But we should not expect the floodgates to open as each case is, and must be, looked at on its individual merits.

Whereas it is easy to sympathise with parents' motives, for logistical reasons all such requests cannot be accommodated – particularly at a time when the council has 8,600 empty desks and is seeking to close some schools as a result.

Only where capacity exists can parents hope to be successful. Other than that the best way to try to guarantee a child's entry to a specific school is to live within its catchment area – but for the better schools, as many know, that comes at the cost of premium prices to buy or rent property.

24-hour Starbucks

IT is disappointing to see that once again the police are objecting to plans to a coffee shop on the Royal Mile opening 24 hours.

Their stance is similar to that taken last summer when they decided to launch objections to four pavement licences being extended from 9pm until 11pm following the relaxation of the rules by the council.

Last time, when Starbucks lodged an application to open all-hours during the Festivals, the plan was rejected despite the police being the sole voice of opposition. As a result of their opposition this new application may well also be refused.

But councillors who will consider the application should remember that it is they, and not the police, that set social policy. It is not the role of the police to effectively make political statements over policy unless they have serious concerns that their ability to maintain the peace is at risk.

They may fear that anywhere open late may become a focal point for trouble, but objecting to a place which sells only caffeine sits badly with the police's lack of objection to licences which allow clubs to stay open late selling alcohol.