The first wave of pupils at a new Perth secondary could be forced to change schools twice in the space of a year, parents have been warned.
Plans to phase-in S1 children at the planned £23 million Bertha Park establishment could cause major upheaval and “anxiety” for families, Education Scotland said.
Later this week, Perth and Kinross councillors will be asked to delay the opening of the new school to the start of the new term in August 2018 after criticism from the Scottish Government agency and parents.
However, the move could put crucial funding at risk, with an initial agreement requiring the school to be operational “no later” than March 31 2018.
The 1,100-capacity development won widespread support from parents during a lengthy consultation exercise which began in September.
Perth and Kinross Council leaders say the new school is needed to ease pressure on other establishments, which are already nearing capacity.
The Scottish Government agreed to partly fund the project after a study showed Perthshire’s population is expected to soar by nearly a quarter in the next 25 years.
Now, the local authority has revealed the results of its consultation with parents which began last year.
Of the 9,000 letters sent out to households to gauge interest, only nine people wrote back with objections.
And a report by Education Scotland has said the new school will benefit the region’s youngsters, offering them access to “a 21st Century education”.
However, the agency has also warned that the council needs to address concerns about its transition plan which could see pupils moved to one school for eight months before being moved on again to Bertha Park.
A spokesman said: “It is proposed that in August 2017, the first cohort of S1 pupils will be brought together as one group in another secondary school. This S1 group would then move to the new school in March 2018. This will result in the pupils concerned experiencing two transitions in less than a year.”
He said that a “high proportion” of questions in written responses from parents had raised concerns.
One mum said she and many others could not afford to buy their children two uniforms.
“Many parents and children were not in favour of the proposal to have children located temporarily in another Perth secondary school,” Education Scotland said.
“They raised a number of issues including questions on uniform, children’s sense of identity and the disruption of their education.
“Parents were unclear as to how this proposed arrangement would be in the best interests of their children.”
A report on the school plan will go before the council’s lifelong learning committee tomorrow.
Service manager Karen Robertson confirmed the group will now be asked to approve a revised opening date of August 2018.
“The Scottish Futures Trust has been approached regarding the funding offer in place for the new secondary school,” she said.
“The original funding agreement required the new secondary school to be operational no later than March 31 2018.”