The Education policy and development scrutiny panel are set to consider plans to launch a consultation over a number of proposed changes to school catchments from August 2026.
The changes aim to make sure that catchments fit better with local community ties and ensure better alignment with community council and natural geographic boundaries.
One of the key aims of the proposals is to address longstanding community wishes for the whole of the Wester Inch area in Bathgate to be part of the catchment for Simpson Primary and Bathgate Academy.
Currently the western part of the development is within the catchment for Windyknowe Primary and Armadale Academy, but predictions show Simpson Primary rolls falling below capacity in the future.
Other suggested changes in Bathgate would see the Standhill and Inchcross areas moved from the Windyknowe Primary and Armadale Academy catchments to Simpson Primary and Bathgate Academy, while Bathgate town Centre and Balmuir Road areas would be moved from Windyknowe Primary to Balbardie Primary catchment.
This would ensure capacity is available at Windyknowe to accommodate children from developments taking place in the catchment area.
There are also a range of minor changes proposed involving areas with few or no houses that do not have any children at West Lothian schools.
The proposed changes would not impact on any pupils currently attending West Lothian schools, and no pupils would be asked to move from a school they currently attend.
The proposals will now go to Education Executive to approve the start of the consultation, with the aim of running the consultation period between August and October 2025. A final decision would expected to made in early 2026, and the new catchments would come into effect from August 2026.
