Dumbarton and the Vale parents will not have to prove the religious background children seeking to enrol at denominational school

In the wake of a second west of Scotland local authority announcing plans to have parents prove a child is Catholic - namely in the form of a baptismal certificate - in order to attend highly sought after denominational secondary schools the council have assured they will not be following suit.

Inverclyde Council is considering a change of the rules on school entry to protect places for Catholic families who want to attend Notre Dame High School, in Greenock.

The move follows an increasing number of placing requests to attend the school from outside the catchment which cannot all be accommodated.

A council paper on the proposed changes states that in future priority access will be given to pupils "who can demonstrate an affinity with the religious ethos of the school and can provide documentary evidence of this in the form of a certificate of baptism."

The changes are part of a wider reform of school entry policy in Inverclyde which will also see children who have attended feeder primary schools for the longest time given priority when applying to an associated secondary school.

East Renfrewshire Council also announced a consultation for a similar system after the area's St Ninian's High School became overcrowded as its popularity grew.

However, West Dunbartonshire Council will continue to accept placing requests without a parental reason – or proof of religion – for wishing to send their child to a certain school.

Current council guidelines state: "Every effort will be made to try to meet the wishes of parents/ guardians and young people, but you should note that it is not always possible to grant every placing request to a particular school.

"You do not have to give a reason for making a placing request. If, however, there are more requests than places available, your case may well be strengthened if your reasons are known."