The rules of catchment areas for schools will be reaffirmed in the new Education Bill.

That was confirmed by Minister for Education, Culture and Sport Graham Cregeen in a written answer in the House of Keys to a question from Daphne Caine (Garff).

Earlier this year, the department’s consultation into the new Bill revealed that there was no majority public support for catchment areas, which mean that most children have to go to the school that’s closest to where they live.

Of the 535 people who responded to the question, only 196 (36.6%) answered yes to the question of whether children should always attend their catchment area school unless their needs could not be met.

By contrast, 257 (48%) of people disgreed with that statement and 75 (14%) of people were unsure. Five people didn’t answer the question.

Despite this, in its consultation response, the department says it will not amend its proposal that a child will attend their catchment school unless they meet specific exception criteria.

The response says: ’This subject elicited a range of varying responses.

’However we do not intend to amend our proposal outlined in the consultation document that a child will attend their catchment school unless they meet specific exception criteria. Whilst we acknowledge such issues as logistical convenience based on parents’ places of work or after school care arrangements, we consider that this will have far-reaching implications for school facilities and infrastructure in the major towns where people work.

’This would also have corresponding impacts upon the viability of schools in other smaller towns and villages. It is our view that that schools across all areas of the island add to community focus within their local areas and these should be protected as much as possible.’

Some schools do not have facilities for children with certain disablities so they cannot go to their ’local’ school and are schooled out of catchment.

Two religion-based schools have all-island catchment.