THE number of pupils attending primary schools in the Helensburgh and Lomond area has increased by just over 1 per cent in the last five years, according to newly-published figures.

The biggest increase is at Parklands School in Helensburgh, for children and young people with complex special educational needs.

The number of pupils attending Parklands has more than doubled, from 11 in 2012-13 to 24 this year – a rise of 118.2 per cent.

Other schools in the area to have experienced a notable increase in pupil numbers include Rhu, from 165 five years ago to 211 this year (a rise of 27.9 per cent) and Colgrain (7.9 per cent, from 266 pupils to 287).

The area's largest primary school, Hermitage Primary, saw a slight increase of 2.3 per cent over the same period, from 390 pupils in 2012-13 to 399 in the current school year.

Conversely, the roll at Cardross has fallen from 182 to 157, a decline of 13.7 per cent, while at John Logie Baird the five-year decline is 17.6 per cent, from 193 pupils to 159.

The largest decline, however, is at Luss Primary, which has seven pupils on its roll this year compared to 20 five years ago – though the school's roll, both in 2012-13 and now, is the smallest of any mainstream primary in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, making any change in numbers much larger in percentage terms.

A report presented to members of Argyll and Bute Council's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on Tuesday stated that “the rise in primary school placements at Parklands has directly impacted on the rolls of other schools from which pupils have been placed”.

Parklands caters for pupils from pre-5 up to the age of 19 with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties.

The report states that 1,761 pupils are attending the Helensburgh and Lomond area's 11 primary schools (plus Parklands) in the current session – a rise of 1.3 per cent over the last five years.