Glasgow Save our Schools Campaign
Saturday, January 28, 2006
POLITICIANS, parents and residents alike rallied together last weekend to protest against council plans for a fresh wave of West End school closures.
Polititians, parents and residents alike rallied together last weekend to protest against council plans for a fresh wave of West End school closures. Polititians, parents and residents alike rallied together last weekend to protest against council plans for a fresh wave of West End school closures.Save Our Schools campaigners gathered together on Saturday morning to march against council proposals to build a new Hillhead Primary on a gap site in Gibson Street.Over one hundred parents, children and residents joined forces for the family-oriented march, beginning their trek at the site of the proposed new school and ending at Dowanhill Primary for an afternoon of face painting and family fun. March organiser Anthea Irwin said: "We were very pleased with the amount of people who got involved and came along.
"It was important to have a vibrant, colourful march in which the children were involved, as they are the ones at the centre of these decisions." Several West End primaries have been earmarked for closure under Glasgow City Council's pre-12 Education Proposals, part of a reorganisation of education aiming to create 21st century schools. The proposals include plans to close 28 primary schools across the city, a measure aiming to target the problem of falling school rolls. Under Proposal J, the creation of Non Denominational Education in Hillhead, a new non denominational primary school with pre 5 facilities will replace Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank Primary
West Enders end campaign to protest over school closures schools, along with Dowanhill and Willows nursery schools in 2008. However, critics have voiced a string of concerns including road safety in the area and the impact on class sizes. The new school may house up to 700 pupils and class sizes could rise to as much as 32. Heather Anderson, a former primary school teacher, has two children at Dowanhill primary. Ms. Anderson said: "I'm very angry. I feel that there is no need for this new school, and that the money should be spent on the existing schools. "I think private developers have a lot to do with this and the development will just bring more problems to the area."
Scottish Socialist Party MSP Rosie Kane, who was there to show her support, said: "People need to remember that schools are not just nine till five, they are centres of the community." A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "We are in the middle of a consultation process and parents have a right to express their opinions."
Pictures
Bob, 2:02 PM
