Education officers’ bid for planning permission for the proposal at the Barrhill Road facility is expected to go before Renfrewshire Council’s planning and climate change policy board in November.
The 400-pupil expansion is needed to meet an expected rise in numbers – largely linked to the growth of Bishopton’s Dargavel Village – in the years ahead.
But more than 200 objections have been submitted as people remain unconvinced the project, due to be complete in 2027, is the right solution.
David Woodrow, chair of Bishopton Community Council, said: “We’ve not seen any meaningful engagement with the community about other options.
“They’re heading for another Bowles inquiry with all its implications, they’re heading for a capacity issue.
“All we are asking for at the moment is an independent assessment of what they’re proposing.
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“Education shouldn’t be dictated by accountants, it should be dictated by children’s needs and the requirements of the community.”
The decision to extend Park Mains to add capacity for another 400 pupils and bring the total capacity to approximately 2,000 was made at the education and children’s services policy board in May 2023.
Key elements of the proposal include a teaching annex next to the existing west wing, providing additional classroom space to support a growing student roll, and a PE annex adjacent to the current PE block, expanding the school’s sports facilities.
Additionally, a dining extension would serve an increased number of pupils during break and lunch times while reconfiguration of the internal layout of the existing school building to group related subjects together would look to create more integrated learning environments.
However, the community council, as well as Bishopton residents, believe the extension would prove to be “inadequate” in meeting future demand and some continue to call for investment in a new high school instead.
One person said: “I strongly object to this proposal and firmly believe it is the wrong course of action.
“Even council projections show that, even with the proposed extension, Park Mains High School will still not be big enough.”
Another added: “This would not serve the needs of Dargavel Village. Instead a new high school should be built in Bishopton itself.”
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Analysis previously published as part of a partnership between the council and data specialists Edge Analytics suggested the school roll could exceed 2,000 as early as 2032/33.
However, the local authority indicated this could be addressed by managing and reducing the number of placing requests to the school through its admissions policy.
Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for Bishopton, said: “I think the numbers that we’re talking about from Bishopton alone warrant a new high school really.
“It doesn’t make much sense to be extending Park Mains to such an extent that it still won’t meet the demand going forward.”
A council spokesperson said: “The planning application for the expansion of Park Mains High School remains under consideration and all comments received will be taken into account as part of that.
“Our latest detailed long-term projections – produced once again in partnership with industry experts – will be published later this month and continue to indicate the extended Park Mains High School will have enough capacity for pupils expected from within the catchment over the years ahead.
“We have engaged extensively with Bishopton Community Council on this issue.
“The financial case for extending Park Mains High School was publicly set out and approved by councillors in 2023, which included analysis showing a new secondary school in Bishopton would mean significant extra cost for the council and would not have been best value for public funds, while also leaving Park Mains significantly under capacity.”
