THE intake of S1 pupils at a Giffnock school has been increased for next year to deal with oversubscription. 

St Ninian’s High School has been allowed to exceed its maximum intake of 300, meaning 320 students will join for 2019/20.

The school currently has an ‘agreed planning capacity’ of 1,704 but, in September 2018, there were 1,776 students.

A report to councillors, by director of education Mhairi Shaw, states: “Schools can operate above their planning capacity. This is often the case in very popular schools, since they inevitably attract placing requests and so fill pupil year groups. 

“Exceptionally efficient timetabling is used at St Ninian’s to ensure there is the most effective use of all resources including maximum room utilisation.”

Following a 2016 policy change for dealing with oversubscribed schools, East Renfrewshire Council agreed to fund new temporary teaching rooms at St Ninian’s. 

Officers are currently working with the school to ensure these are in place for 2021/22, when the school capacity will temporarily increase to 1,818 pupils.

During the S1 application process for August 2019, 279 pupils have been guaranteed a place, leaving space for a further 22 pupils.

There are an additional 55 children - 31 who are Catholic - now in the St Ninian’s catchment area seeking a place in August, taking the school into oversubscription.

Currently, this would mean a ballot for the 22 available places between the 31 Catholic pupils. 

However, 320 S1 places have been allocated to the school, allowing all pupils who attended an associated primary school and those baptised Catholic to join.

The remaining 13 pupils have been allocated a place at their non-denominational catchment school.

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