PUPILS who have controversially been refused places in St Columba's High School have won the backing of politicians as they fight to join their classmates.

The Tele recently reported how the parents of the St Ninian's Primary 7 youngsters are taking Inverclyde Council to court in a bid to overturn the decision.

Now MSP Stuart McMillan has stepped in along with councillors Colin Jackson, Lynne Quinn and Drew McKenzie to voice their concerns over the situation.

Meanwhile the youngsters have written to council leader Stephen McCabe and education convenor Jim Clocherty pleading with the education department for a change of heart.

MSP Mr McMillan said: "I am fully supportive of the families and their campaign to keep their children with the friends they have made from primary one.

“Moving to high school is stressful enough for every child as well as their parents and this added stress helps nobody.

"It also makes perfect sense for these pupils to go to St. Columba's to be in the same school as their siblings.

“At this point, it’s in everyone’s best interests that Inverclyde Council change their decision and think of the futures of these children.

"They may have to look at their allocations policy as a result of this sad episode."

In a letter posted to council leader Mr McCabe and number two Cllr Clocherty, the youngsters say that they fear being separated from brothers and sisters, as well as their friends.

It says: "We are all very upset, worried and angry at the fact that we've not been allowed into our feeder high school.

"We would rather be going to school with our friends and our brothers and sisters so we would know lots of people.

"We would like you to help us, please come and meet us and our families to find a solution."

Education convenor Mr Clocherty has replied, expressing sympathy for the situation but also explaining that St Columba's is at capacity and procedures have to be put in place.

All the pupils concerned live outwith the catchment boundaries in Greenock but went to St Ninian's Primary in Gourock - an associated school for St Columba's - and their parents submitted placing requests.

The school has had higher than anticipated intakes in the last two school terms.

But Councillor Jackson says education bosses 'have made the wrong decision'.

He said: "I've written to head of education in support of the parents and children and I would encourage others to do so."

Inverclyde Council has stated it cannot comment on individual cases but management have set out the reasons why placing requests are refused.

They can be turned down if the school would have to take on extra teachers to cope with the additional pupils or would have to be extended or altered to provide extra classrooms.

A spokesman added: “The impact of placing requests can be much more complex than just adding one or two pupils, especially if a school is already at or close to capacity.

"The number of pupils you have starting in S1 has a knock-on effect throughout the school in terms of how many S2s you will have, how many S3s and so on up the school.

“By the time you reach S4, S5 and S6 this can have a serious impact on the number and range of subjects taught, especially in practical subjects such as science, music, art and PE.

"If there are too many pupils it becomes difficult to deliver the full range of subjects effectively and educational standards can suffer.”