Douglas school catchment petition launched

An online petition has been launched against proposals for changing the catchment area for a Douglas primary school.

The government is looking for the catchment area of Scoill yn Jubilee to become a joint catchment area for Ballakermeen High School and St Ninian's High School for the 2019/20 academic year.

Those behind the petition say the majority of young children in Douglas in walking distance of Ballakermeen could be forced to take an 'unnecessary' car or bus journey to St Ninian's lower school in Onchan.

Meanwhile, Education, Sport & Culture Minister, Graham Cregeen MHK, says the review of catchment areas on Island has shown an issue over the number of pupils attending secondary schools in the Island capital.

He added an amendment to the 2017 school catchment order in this regard would be 'necessary'.