School catchment areas in central Douglas and the north of the island could be changed.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson told Tynwald on Tuesday that catchment areas were reviewed regularly, looking at current school numbers, proposed housing developments and other factors.

Daphne Caine (Garff) asked whether any catchments were being reviewed with the current drive to register pupils for reception year in primary schools next year.

Dr Allinson said: ’There are ongoing negotiations both in the north of the island and also in the central Douglas area, as we look at the expected number of pupils entering various schools in that area.’

There are three schools that have an all-island catchment - two faith schools - St Thomas’ and St Mary’s, both in Douglas - and also the Manx language school Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in St John’s.

The minister said primary school head teachers were now the main decision-makers when out-of-catchment requests were made.

Considerations that head teachers would have to take into account included staff allocations, to ensure that schools do not end up in a position were ’admissions do not match up with the expected staffing levels’.

Heads must also not discriminate on equality issues.

’We try to be as flexible as possible as well as balancing the overall catchment areas and capacity of schools at the same time,’ the minister said.

Dr Allinson said even when school numbers were below capacity, catchment areas were still necessary.

’We do need to try to balance the student population across our island,’ he said. ’It not only prevents schools being over-filled it also helps protect some of those rural schools from losing a lot of their pupils.

’We need to recognise and embrace the diversity of schools we have across our island.’

The Department of Education is working with head teachers at schools with low numbers to find ways of encouraging pupils into those schools by ’enhancing’ services and facilities.