A GLASGOW primary school is so full it has had to turn away children whose older brothers or sisters go there.

Wallacewell Primary in the north east of the city has had to refuse all placing requests.

It is understood a number of nursery children have not been accepted into P1 despite siblings attending and being in the catchment area. 

According to a Wallacewell Primary handbook the capacity of the school is about 396. 

Labour councillors Audrey Dempsey and Thomas Rannachan have been in touch with parents whose children are being separated into different schools. 

A boy leaving nursery must go to Balornock Primary despite his two older brothers going to Wallacewell. The same thing has happened to a little girl with special needs whose older brother attends Wallacewell.

Calling for an extension to Wallacewell Primary, councillor Rannachan said: “It is creating an anxiety when children can’t go to the same school. They should be looking forward to starting school for the first time. Wallacewell Primary is crying out for a two-story extension. That would alleviate the situation. It is a good school with fantastic teachers in a big catchment.”

He believes the pressure on places is due to the population getting bigger as more houses are being built in the Robroyston area. 

It is understood kids are already being taught in two portable cabins at Wallacewell Primary as the main building doesn’t have space. 

There are 13 children on the waiting list for the school.

Families are being offered a place at Balornock Primary and will be contacted if any spaces become available. 

Councillor Dempsey raised the issue of mums struggling to drop off children at two separate school gates before the bell. 

Councillor Dempsey added: “We have siblings being split up. 

“The feedback I am getting is the lack of personalisation to placing requests and consideration of specific needs. It is a standard response – not tailored. This will continue if people don’t speak out.” 

Councillor Dempsey said she believes communication set out in refusal letters from the council is led by the Scottish Government. 

A council spokesperson said: “We know that placing request refusals are upsetting for families but when our schools are at capacity we are left with no option but to follow the statutory placing request criteria to make the process fair and equitable to everyone in the city.

“Responses to families must follow the legal requirements and statutory reasons for refusal - set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 28A.

“Families can of course use their right to appeal the decision where they would be able to make their case to the appeal committee.”