SCOTTISH Borders Council is set to consult on the catchment areas for two Selkirk primary schools.

Following a decline in the number of pupils at Yarrow Primary School, council officers are looking at altering the catchment area to include homes that are currently within Philiphaugh Community School’s catchment.

The plans would mean that pupils from Yarrowford and Broadmeadows, to the west of Selkirk, would attend Yarrow Primary School instead of Philiphaugh School, which is in town.

A report, due to go before Scottish Borders Council’s executive meeting on Tuesday 30 April, explains that a consultation will be carried out with parents prior to any boundary changes.

The author of the report, interim service director for children and young people Stuart Easingwood, writes: “The proposed consultation will seek views on whether there is support for the proposal to amend the catchment areas.

“It is not considered that the proposal will have a material impact on Philiphaugh Community School.

“The number of children in the area under consideration area is relatively low and the Philiphaugh roll has been at a consistent level for a number of years.

“There are currently 125 pupils at the school which equates to occupancy of 83%. The average occupancy over the last ten years has been 85 percent.

“If there is a positive response to the proposal, and a formal recommendation is made to councillors to amend the catchment, it is proposed that pupils, from the Yarrowford and Broadmeadows area, currently attending Philiphaugh, can decide which school they would like to attend and council funded transport will be provided.

“This arrangement will also apply to any future siblings.”

The consultation, if approved by councillors on Tuesday, will run throughout May, culminating in two public meetings on Thursday, may 23, at Yarrow Primary School and Philiphaugh Community Schools, at 5.30pm and 7.30pm respectively.