ANGRY parents in East Renfrewshire have launched a petition after being told their kids can’t attend the school of their choice.

Mums and dads have been left fuming over the decision to refuse their children entry to Crookfur Primary, in Newton Mearns.

A number of youngsters who attend Crookfur Nursery have been told they cannot ‘move up’ to the school, which shares the same grounds, and will have to go to Mearns Primary instead.

More than 700 people have now signed a petition which calls on East Renfrewshire Council to find a “suitable solution” for a lack of capacity at Crookfur Primary.

In a statement, organisers of the online petition said: “We live in the catchment for Crookfur Primary School. However, our children have been allocated Mearns Primary.

“Whilst we do not dispute the quality of Mearns Primary as an educational establishment, a placement here has practical, emotional, social and financial implications for our families and, in particular, for our children.

“All our children have been attending Crookfur Nursery for the past two years and they have created valuable relationships and connections within the school, staff and other pupils.”

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said “clear criteria” for allocating places was agreed after consultation with residents.

He added: “Whilst we appreciate it is frustrating when children living near their catchment school do not get a place, we have to use the criteria to ensure all children are provided a school place in a fair way.

“These criteria are only used when the number of applications for a school exceeds the number of places available. This was the case at Crookfur this year.

“We are continuing to communicate with affected parents as we explore whether alternative approaches can be put in place at Crookfur Primary. Once these investigations are completed, parents will be provided with an update.”

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