By Andrew Jarret.

PUPILS AND parents endured a “bewildering” and “chaotic” start to life at the new Carlogie Primary School in Carnoustie yesterday, it was claimed.

Mrs Sue Murray said she spoke on behalf of a number of concerned parents and guardians yesterday after arriving at the school before 9am for the pupils’ first day.

Angus Council’s education department refuted the claims and said it believed the first day had gone relatively smoothly.

“It was absolute chaos there this morning with nobody knowing where they were supposed to go and nobody around to tell them,” said Mrs Murray.

“Matters were made worse by the torrential rain. There were kids as young as five wandering about not knowing where to go.”

Mrs Murray said a large part of the problem lay with the school doors being closed until 9.10am to accommodate pupils arriving with the ‘walking’ bus.

She said playground staff were unable to give any directions and it was only after the head teacher emerged that pupils were given proper instruction.

“Most of the children are dropped off before 9am so there’s at least 15 minutes when many of them were wandering around,” she said.

“There’s 10 minutes of the school day being lost in the morning and afternoon because of the walking bus.

“There’s also no lollipop lady on at lunchtimes, which is another cause for concern.

“I just don’t think there was enough information given out before opening this school and that lies with the education department of Angus Council.”

The local authority said as far as it was concerned the transition had gone well with only minor hiccups, as could be expected on an opening day.

A spokesperson for Angus Council said, “The school travel plan was prepared in advance of the move and parents have been kept informed of plans and arrangements throughout the process.

“Arrangements for both the walking bus and vehicle bus went well this morning at Carlogie Primary School.

“As previously publicised, during the period of decant, the school day starts at 9.10am to enable vehicle, walking bus and pupils using other modes of transport to get to school.

“School had staff on the vehicle and in the playground prior to 9.10 this morning to assist pupils and direct them to appropriate doors.

“There may have been some initial uncertainty which is not entirely unexpected given it was first day in a new school, but by playtime pupils knew where to line up.

“As lunch-break has been reduced to accommodate a later start, there are no plans to have a crossing patroller on duty at lunch time,” the spokesperson added.

“The situation will be kept under review and, if necessary, arrangements amended.”