Parents delighted as children offered places at city primary

PARENTS battling to get their children into a popular city primary have been granted places by education chiefs, just days after a legal bid was launched.

Three families were preparing to take the council to court over its refusal to allow their children into the primary one class at Roseburn Primary.

Now though, the parents – who all live just outside the catchment area but have children at the nursery – have been informed that places for their youngsters have been found at the school, after others who had previously been offered places dropped out to go elsewhere.

An additional family with a child at the nursery is also understood to have received a place.

The parents of Carolina Simpson, Megan Rae and Andrew Johnstone all failed to win their bid at an appeals committee hearing earlier this month.

They subsequently joined forces to take their case to the Sheriff Court in a bid to make the council reverse its decision, and they now say they are delighted not to have to proceed with the legal action.

Landscaper David Simpson, 34, lives just half a street out of the Roseburn catchment and is relieved to have got a place for his daughter, Carolina, at the school.

He said: "I thought it was going to drag on right through the summer.I'm absolutely delighted. It's been quite a stressful time but now we can put it to bed and buy her uniform and start looking forward."

His wife Patricia added: "We are so happy. I never thought for a moment that we would get in but miraculously these spaces have opened up. I think with all the publicity and all the campaigning people have done, they had to crack under the pressure."

The parents were originally told they could not get their children into the popular Roseburn Primary because it will only have one Primary 1 class this year, instead of the expected two.

The parents' argument centred on the fact that the school currently has enough teachers to run two P1 classes, and parents made their application several months ago based on this.

Medical receptionist Amy Bonner, whose son Andrew has now got a place at the school, said: "I feel absolutely brilliant.

I thought we were going to have to go through the whole court process so I'm very happy."

Pete Gregson, who was representing the three families and has a son going into P1 after the holidays, said: "I am really happy that the three families have been able to keep their kids at Roseburn."

City education leader Marilyne MacLaren said: "These places have been freed up because some catchment parents have decided not to take their places at the school.

"The legislation is very clear on the issue and our staff take great care to work in line with it."