PARENTS in the Island have been reminded that their children should attend school in the catchment area in which they live so that schools do not become over capacity.
The Department of Education and Children has recently published a new Catchment Area Order which details where children will go to school.
The document was prepared after it was found that the number of predicted pupils in year seven at St Ninian's High School would take the school over capacity – while Ballakermeen would have spare places.
Education and Children Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: "Schools were planned to serve the areas they are located in and it's not economic that some schools have room on their rolls while others are at full capacity."
Primary school catchment areas are geographic and the primary school a child attends usually dictates which secondary school a child attends.
However there are two exceptions. If a child has an older sibling who already attends a secondary school outside the catchment area, e.g. if he/she was enrolled there prior to a house move, the secondary school is then expected to admit younger siblings.
The second is when a child goes to primary school outside their catchment area. If this is the case they are expected to return to the catchment area to attend secondary school.
Before the introduction of the order primary school pupils in the Douglas area had the choice of attending Ballakermeen High School and St Ninian's High School. The Catchment Area Order now dictates which one they will attend.
Schools carry out their own admissions and headteachers are within their rights to refuse a child admission if they do not live in the catchment area.
Any parent unsure of which catchment area they live in can consult the order by clicking here or by phoning the department on 01624 685820.
Parents of children who turn five in the school year which starts on September 6, 2011, are urged to register them as soon as possible to assist school planning.
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