The practice of keeping spaces free for pupils who live outwith the Largs Academy catchment area but who wish to attend the school may change following an investigation of the school’s placing request process.

North Ayrshire Council’s audit committee had undertaken the investigation after pupils who had failed in a placing request were given a place by default when the council twice failed to have the necessary information to consider their appeals.

The Education Appeals Committee was due to consider the appeals on May 16 this year. However, the information necessary to the appeal was not lodged by council officials and the committee was unable to proceed. The same situation happened the following week and forced the council to grant the appeals by default.

A report to the committee stated: “The chief executive instructed Internal Audit to carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this matter.

As a result of the issue, council auditors have recommended a review of placements to Largs Academy to ensure that the number of vacant spaces is adequate. The view will consider how to minimise the number of appeals made by parents who wish to send their children to the school. The Academy currently retains four vacant S1 places - a figure which has remained the same for almost 10 years.

The report adds: “Education should review a number of years’ placing request data and identify those schools which regularly receive placing requests. They should then review the class structure within these schools to ensure that capacity is maximised.” Councillors were considering the report as the News went to press.