BROTHERS, sisters and friends will be split up when they go to high school after a number of pupils missed out on a St Andrew’s Academy spot in a ballot. 

Furious parents of children at non-associated primary schools have called on Renfrewshire Council to rethink its policy when a high school is at full capacity.

Youngsters who live near to St Andrew’s Academy but do not attend one of eight associated primary schools had their names drawn from an envelope. 

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However, the process has left children facing the prospect of going to a different school to their older siblings and in some cases being separated from friends. 

John McCormick’s son Taylor is the only one of a group of 11 friends who will not attend St Andrew’s, despite having went through nursery and Todholm Primary School with them. 

The 11-year-old’s brother also attends St Andrew’s Academy.

John said: “It’s a farce because his older brother is at St Andrew’s. Taylor is absolutely gutted.

“He never ate all weekend. Taylor is one of 11 friends who have went right through school from nursery and he’s the only one that’s not got in.”

Tracey Dow’s daughter Hannah was another unfortunate student who missed out, despite living minutes from St Andrew’s.

As Hannah lives less than two miles from an alternative school, she does not qualify for a place on a school bus. 

Tracey said: “My wee girl never got in and I live a stone’s throw from the school. I’m a single mother with three kids. My wee boy goes to Todholm Primary School and my baby is just one. 

“They’re expecting my daughter to go to Gleniffer or Paisley Grammar. We’ve got to deal with transport ourselves.

“We’ve been trying to see if we can arrange transport but the council are having none of it.”

Susan Roy is concerned she will now have to choose a school for son Nathan because it’s easier to get to rather than what she feels is best for him educationally.

Nathan is another who lives in the catchment area of St Andrew’s but fell short in the ballot.

“He has a sibling in Todholm, so I can’t get one to a school in Glasgow Road and one to Todholm,” Susan said.

“I don’t have a car. My only option would be to let him go himself because he’s under the two-mile radius. 

“The council has to look at its policy. 

“It’s not our problem, it’s the council’s problem and they can’t just turn around and say it’s tough because it’s going to have a huge impact.

“At the moment my children’s future is based on access, the school I can physically get to rather than education.”

Paisley East and Central Councillors Will Mylet and Carolann Davidson are planning to speak to education chiefs at the local authority about parents’ concerns. 

Councillor Davidson said: “I have been contacted by lots of distressed parents regarding this ballot and I attended the meeting that parents organised on Tuesdaynight. 

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“There were a lot of very concerned people there, who are worried sick about their children, many of whom have older siblings already attending St Andrew’s.

“I have arranged an urgent meeting with the head of schools and the acting director of children’s services to discuss anything that can possibly be done to resolve the parents and children’s concerns, for both now and future years.”

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “Secondary school pupils who live more than two miles away from their catchment school are entitled to a place on a school bus. 

“This policy ensures every pupil is treated fairly and equitably.

“All pupils from an associated primary in the catchment were allocated a place at St Andrew’s Academy and due to unprecedented demand, a ballot in line with our school admissions policy determined the remaining places.”