Glasgow Save our Schools Campaign

Reducing class sizes would be ‘irresponsible’ Glasgow City Council

2009-04-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Outrage as Glasgow city council claims reducing class sizes would be ‘irresponsible’ Glasgow City Council has said that reducing class sizes in Scottish schools is an "irresponsible" policy, provoking widespread condemnation and incredulity.

The city's largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said the council's statement showed "contempt" for its teachers and warned it could lead to a breakdown in co-operation over the controversial schools closure programme. The SNP government said Glasgow's position was "outrageous" and in blatant denial of academic evidence.The Labour-led council's stance is also counter to the official position
of the Scottish Labour Party on the issue, as it supports a reduction in class sizes.

The row comes after Councillor Jonathan Findlay, executive member for education, explained the city's policy.

He told the Sunday Herald: "In Glasgow we are not intending to cut class sizes, not only because it would cost millions upon millions of pounds to do so, but because it is an irresponsible policy.

"Our own independent education commission has provided us with compelling evidence that cutting classes to 18 will do nothing to further the literacy and numeracy skills of our young children."

He highlighted the council's alternative system of "nurture classes" for children in early-years primary classes who need the most help. He estimated the cost of introducing class sizes of 18 into the city would be £47 million, equivalent to six new primary schools.

Previously the council said its refusal to seek to reduce class sizes was due to financial constraints. Now, though, it appears to be openly hostile to the policy as a matter of principle.

The Scottish government wants to reduce class sizes to 18 for the first three years of primary school. It argues that smaller classes mean better teaching, more personalised learning and more attention paid to children with individual needs. Progress has been slow, however. Figures in February revealed that only 18% of primary-one to primary-three classes in Scotland were meeting the target. In Glasgow the average class size for the first three years of primary is 21.

A senior SNP source said the Scottish government was angry at Glasgow City Council's position and branded the comments "a disgrace", accusing councillors of openly playing politics with education. He said: "Glasgow has finally let the cat out of the bag. Their opposition to the government's education policies has nothing to do with finance and everything to do with politics. They are allowing their hostility to the SNP to damage the educational prospects of the children of Glasgow."

Willie Hart, secretary of the Glasgow branch of the EIS, which represents 80% of Glasgow's teachers, challenged the council to speak to any teacher in the city about reducing class sizes.

He said the "overwhelming majority" think it is a good idea. "If that is the position - as blunt as that, saying it is irresponsible - it will be extremely difficult for us to have a good working relationship. It is flying in the face of the views of almost all active professionals who deliver the service. It shows contempt for their staff. It is highly disappointing. And I hope the government steps in and says it is unacceptable.

"If the council is saying, We don't care about reducing class sizes,' that will prejudice our approach to their school closure programme." EIS has so far not made an issue over the council's proposals to close 25 primary and nursery schools.

Scottish Labour confirmed it is in favour of reducing class sizes nationally, potentially putting it at loggerheads with the city council. Education spokeswoman Rhona Brankin MSP, however, said Glasgow City Council had to make its own choices and accused the government of making demands without providing any funding.

The Scottish Parent Teacher Council supports Glasgow's stance, however. Judith Gillespie, its development manager, said: "A smaller class policy has on the whole the biggest disruptive effect on schools that are doing well and have full classes. What you have to do with these schools to force classes down to 18 is not to spend money on teachers but on classrooms."

10:54pm Saturday 4th April 2009

Schools Battle latest

2009-04-05T00:50:00.000-07:00

Download a copy of Burgh Angel here

Parents lock themselves in schools in protest over proposed closures

Rally backing for school sit-in BBC

More articles here

Where are the threatend schools Here

Nursery News:
School closures consultation...":
There never was a consultation, Want proof? Look here:

Burgh Angel News School Closures

2009-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Protest at Glasgow council school closure plans

3 February 2009: Large angry meetings have been held across Glasgow in protest at the Council’s plans to close 13 primary and 12 nursery schools to save £3.7m the same sum as they plan to give to local property developers “affected by the recession”.

2008-10-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Comment from Burgh Angel:
hi ...well GCC at it's 'selling the family silver ' again: ELDER park PRIMARY SCHOOL IN linthouse has been flogged for only 265k...absolutely no communtiy consultation about what to do with the building when the school closes in Dec 09, no, GCC have just sold it, and now QUARRIERS WANT TO DEMOLISH THIS MUCH LOVED LOCAL LANDMARK - THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT, PUBLIC MEETING OCT 23RD AT 6.15PM, IN THE SCHOL ON ST KENNETH DRIVE IN LINTHOUSE....GCC ARE SAYING NO OTHER SUITABLE SITES, DESPITE GOVAN HAVING 68 BROWNFIELD SITES...TWO OF WHICH ARE VIRTUALLY ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL...GCC LINE SO FAR IS 'WE'VE SOLD IT, NOT OUR PROB'..THERE IS MASSIVE LOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE LOSS OF OUR HERITAGE, WHEN WILL THIS COUNCIL START UNDERSTANDING IT IS THERE TO SERVE ITS PEOPLE !!!

Objections to the new superschool + Comments

2007-10-25T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone 
If you haven't had a chance yet to communicate your objections to the new superschool to the planning department, try to do so soon, before the end of this week, as we were given the rather vague instruction that we would 'a few weeks' to put comments in after the application 
If possible it's best for letters of objection to differ from each other - i'm attaching the letter heather and i put together and of which we've been getting multiple copies signed.  this might be useful as a resource for points to make, or you could do a slightly different version of it, or indeed just sign this one if you're pushed for time to put anything together yourslef.  it would also be great if you could get a few signed by others (and individualised if possible ...) 

letters of objection should be sent to: 

Mr dale development and regeneration service
 229 george street glasgow g11qu 

Heather and I will be setiing up a stall at hillhead subway at lunctime on thursday (around 1-2) to publicise the campaign and get some more letters signed.  our stall last week was really successful and was good evidence that people still want to get involved and fight the plans at this stage. do come along on thursday if you can make it lets get some ideas together of future actions -let me know of any inspiration you have 

 cheers 
 Anthea

Comment

I presume the class size issue still holds.  Also, I get the impression that the cost of c. £12 million is a lot greater than the original proposal. Could someone let me know if this is correct. This could be another grounds - the fact that the costs seem to be increasing and that it would be more cost effective to repair existing schools, as well as what parents want. Marion

Comment

I'm a parent of 4 children and I DON'T want the  old
school repaired.  I want the new school built.
The current Hillhead primary is not fit for purpose. It
has 2 of the smallest most desolate playgrounds I've
ever seen; children can't see out of the windows,
its over 5 levels, there is no room big enough to
accomodate all of the children, the dining hall is
positively depressing....need I go on.  Which
schools do your kids go to?......
F. R.



Dear Mrs R.

My children went to Hillhead Primary and say that it is the teachers who matter. The boy said that boys want to play football and need a hard surface for that.When we acquired a piece of ground for a further play area the council promptly sold it off for over-development.

 What we are extremely concerned about is that they plan to build this school next to a heavily polluted and busy junction.Pollutants from deisel engines damage the development of young children's lungs, yet the council is refusing to do any air quality tests on site. It is the SITE to which we object. Perhaps you could lobby for air quality monitoring?

 We are also worried about safe routes to school. Going through Kelvingrove or along Kelvin Way is not safe for children when there are not many people about, or when it is dusk.Not all children are accompanied to and from school, or ferried in cars. 

 There are other reasons why this particular site is not considered suitable, e.g. the extra traffic generated on a small road above the Kelvin which is unable to take the weight. We have had no satisfactory response to questions relating to this. 

 The site was selected by the education officers before councillors were informed or before people who know the area were informed.The community council was effectively excluded from all consultations and local residents who originally favoured the general proposal have not had satisfactory answers to their questions. 

 It is also not permitted to take any land within the curtilage of an A listed landscape.Kelvingrove and its 'depot' are such a listed landscape. There are other sites which are not part of the listed landscape and should have been explored. 

 I think parents should be asking their councillors what other sites were available and why they were not explored. I would not send my children to a school on the site in Gibson Street if I had any choice in the matter..
 Jean Charsley secretary Hillhead Community Council

School closures have become a national issue

2007-10-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone
Just a note to remind you to keep the pressure on our newly elected council over the issue of school closures and to update you on the steering group's communication with them.  None of the building has begun yet, and last time we checked planning had not yet been applied for.You will I'm sure have been following on the news that attempts have been made to apply the same types of cuts in other parts of the country, with, perhaps disappointingly if not surprisingly, different parties at the helm.  It would seem that there is a tendency among some parties to act differently depending on whether they are in opposition or not ...  It has been great to see, however, that pressure from parents, school students and local residents in Edinburgh has seen the Edinburgh process stopped in its tracks for now (see link below).

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1637&id=1483442007

You'll remember me writing shortly after the election to say that I contacted, on behalf of the steering group, all the new local councillors for the areas affected by Glasgow proposals J and K, as well as all members of the new Education Committee, to request that they move to re-open the issue in the council as a matter of urgency given the lack of representation we had seen previously.  I'm sure many of you did the same.   Although I had some communication with Phil Greene (SNP) and Christopher Mason (Lib Dem), they did not take any action that I know of and I have not heard from them in a while.  

Martha Wardrop (Green councillor for Hillhead) responded a while ago and Heather Anderson and I recently arranged a meeting with her.  It is good to hear that Martha is keen to re-open the issue and has been looking into the history of the objections etc in some detail.  She is keen to speak with campaigners to gather further information.  You can get in touch with her via the Council's website.  

So, send a few emails, make a few phone calls and keep an eye on what's going on elsewhere - school closures have become a national issue.

All the best

Anthea

Overcrowded Schools Protest

2007-03-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Come and protest against overcrowded schools on this Wednesday 21st March at 3pm at Dowanhill Primary!

 All schools are affected: the figures don't add up for the new Notre Dame (see below) so children who'll be going to that school will be getting a raw deal; and any question hanging over the new Notre Dame also raises questions over the centalisation plans for the whole west end. 

 So everyone please read on and get involved - 17 months on the fight is not over - we can't let the council away with shortchanging their city's children. 

 Several months ago the campaign steering group pointed out to the council that their figures for the capacity of the Dowanhill building (337) and the projected roll of the new Notre Dame Primary (434) didn't add up.  Several media sources including the Herald picked this up and challenged the council on it. 

 We finally heard back from the council that in actual fact their plans are based on not the 'working capacity' of Dowanhill (i.e. the number fo children the building could hold at present), but the 'planning capacity' (i.e. the number of children it could potentially hold if it were remodelled) which is 560.  I'm sure you'll agree the difference between the figures is quite astounding and doesn't look good for children's education. 

 The 'planning capacity' involves, at the council's own admission, returning the building to as close to its original configuration as possible.  It is worth remembering that Dowanhill was built in the 1890s - real forward thinking by our education planners then ... 

 There will be more, smaller classrooms.  This will mean class sizes at the legal limit and much less room per child for both learning and social interaction than exists in the building as it is at present. 

 Due to the building having been 'C' listed, they don't have the option of a new build (and even if they did playground space would undoubtedly be sacrificed). 

 There is plenty here to continue to challenge the council on.  So please join in on Wednesday and let them see how scandalous you think their plans are. 

 I'm attaching a leaflet advertising Wednesday's protest - please distribute it at the school gates and among your friends and neighbours. 

 See you on Wednesday with placards and banners!  The plan is to illustrate overcrowded schooling with the aid of Heather's children's tent!

2006-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

Systemic banking education Yep learning tried and tested schooling from our friends across the pond

Power to the pupils - Evening Times

2006-12-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

Power to the pupils - Evening Times

Save Our Schools protesters accuse city council - The Herald

2006-12-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Save Our Schools protesters accuse city council - The Herald

Save Dowanhill School

2006-12-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

Click image for bigger image

So come along at 3 on thursday 7th at Dowanhill and 6.30 on Monday 11th at Hillhead High - bring bannersand placards  the more visible and colourful we are the more likely the media are to print a picture, and therefore the more likely people in the community are to become aware that the fight is not over.

Other questions to ask at the meeting along with your own:

1. Has the air quality been tested at the junction of University Avenue/Gibson Street/Bank Street?  (It hasn't and there are serious concerns here so make sure you get an undertaking to test it before any further discussion of the site goes ahead).

2. Do they know that they cannot encroach on the A listed Kelvingrove PArk?  What are their plans?

3. What are they proposing for parents' cars (entry and exit)

4. What do they intend to do to guarantee the safety of children from the other side of the park? e.g. children who are late for school children who would normally get themselves to school.What are they proposing for this.  J. (More details click link...)

Hi all This is a longish email but there's a bit of updating to be done, and info about action, so please bear with it. Most of you will know I think that historic Scotland decided to 'C' list Dowanhill Primary School -thanks to a campaigner from this list getting in touch with them as far as I know - thanks Eleanor! The council are very much trying to play this down by pushing the fact that it's the 'lowest' listing abuilding can get etc etc, but it's actually a key development.'C' listing means a place is of outstanding local interest and must be protected -not completely, but facade etc - anything that is done has to be done sympathetically to the original building.

Anyway, it occurred to some of us that this could have major implications for the use of the Dowanhill site for the new Notre Dame School, and by extension for the whole of proposals J and K.

The full capacity of Dowanhill that was stated in the original proposal J document was 337 - 227 for the primary school, 40 for the nursery, and 70 for the bilingual unit.  The expected roll for the new Notre Dame is well over 400 (it varies year to year - and doesn't appear to include the nursery children from Anderson street nursery school), so this obviously means that the Dowanhill building as it stands could not accommodate all these children. Depending on what can be done with the Dowanhill building, this may obviously mean that it is impossible to put the new Notre Dame school on this site.

I contacted the council education services committee about this and got a response that completely requote the figures!  Gordon Matheson, who is now the chair / co-ordinator of the committee, claimed that the original figures had not included figures for the nursery and bilingual unit and that the full capacity of the Dowanhill building is currently 560! Look back at your documents if you still have them - you will see tat he is clearly contradicting himself.

We need to grasp this opportunity with both hands -at best there has been an error / misinformation -at worst we have been manipulated and lied to. On a practical level, if the council do find that they can core the Dowanhill building and rebuild the inside (this is what they are planning), raising the capacity as significantly as they will need to will mean much smaller classrooms, less social space etc.  So there are various angles from which we can continue to challenge the council.

The steering committee met this week and decided on the following actions - we will attempt get media coverage for these - please join us and make a big impact!

On this coming Thursday 7th December there will a school gate demonstration at Dowanhill primary at home time - come a bit before 3pm to get set up.  St this we will be pushing the fact that the council can't do their sums yet they think they can dictate education policy to us rather than representing what we have been telling them the community needs.  We will also be building for the next action which is:

A lobby of a meeting with the council on Monday 11th December - the meeting starts at 7 - we will meet at 6.30.  This meeting is for 3 parents (just 3!) from each primary school to meet with the council and discuss what they wish to see in the new Hillhead Primary school.  Some of you have no doubt heard about this meeting or may be going.  Anyone who is going to the meeting should we think continue to ask the questions about road safety, number and size of classrooms, social space, distance to school and the status of the house which is still on the site.  i am well aware however that many parents feel they have no interest in going to this meeting as consultation at this point is a joke given how the last consultation was completely ignored.    For this reason we will lobby the meeting, making points about the lack of consultation and also the numbers issue re the Dowanhill site for the Notre Dame school.

So come along at 3 on Thursday 7th at Dowanhill and 6.30 on Monday 11th at Hillhead High - bring banners and placards  the more visible and colourful we are the more likely the media are to print a picture, and therefore the more likely people in the community are to become aware that the fight is not over.    A.

Council’s plans in doubt as school is listed

2006-08-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

"Council officials want to demolish the building and replace it with a new school on the site but the heritage agency has listed the red sandstone school, built in the 1890s, as a building of special architectural or historic interest."

Scotland's largest council has taken on the country's heritage watchdog in a battle over the future of a Victorian school building.
The row between Historic Scotland and Glasgow City Council over the fate of Dowanhill Primary School in the city's west end could hamper the authority's £261m effort to revitalise the city's schools.Council officials want to demolish the building and replace it with a new school on the site but the heritage agency has listed the red sandstone school, built in the 1890s, as a building of special architectural or historic interest.
The preservation order may hinder plans to overhaul the city's education sector and delay the fourth phase of the council's plan to develop pre-12 education in Glasgow.
A Historic Scotland spokeswoman said: "Dowanhill Primary School is a good example of a large post-1872 Education Act primary school with an imposing interior scheme, including an unusual basement level covered playground area.
"At the time of construction, Dowanhill School was the most costly of all the schools erected by the Govan Parish School Board and was built to accommodate over 1500 scholars."
In March, up to a dozen mothers occupied Dowanhill primary in a last-ditch attempt to keep the school open. The sit-in was staged by the Save Our Schools campaign, a group fighting the council's decision to close the school under its pre-12 education strategy.
But a council spokesman said they would be appealing the decision to list the school, claiming the site was not worthy of preservation.
He said: "Dowanhill is far from unique and this particular design is common in Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Furthermore, an earlier phase of our pre-12 proposals resulted in the demolition of a similar-style building in Haghill. This whole process has to be about providing the best conditions and environment for pupils to succeed – it's not simply about bricks and mortar."
Local authority officials may have to rethink their plans for the site which was to be redeveloped to house Notre Dame and St Peter's primaries, as well as Anderston Street Nursery School.
The council said the use of the Dowanhill site was imperative to the council's investment, and any restrictions imposed by listing would affect both the cost of the programme and the quality of what it could then deliver on the site.
However, heritage experts were delighted that the building could be saved from demolition for future generations.
Audrey Gardner, of the Strathclyde branch of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, said: "This is wonderful news. It was very cavalier of the council to want to move into the site and clear it despite the wishes of heritage experts."
The Herald revealed in May that the council opposed the Dowanhill C listing, claiming there were numerous examples of former school board primary schools in the city. Herald August 01 2006


Lets see you down there Thursday folks
2006-05-16T15:59:00.000-07:00
There is a full council meeting on this coming Thursday so come along and join in the lobby!  Same time same place - City Chambers 12 noon - spread the word   We have done really well keeping up our presence at full council and education committee meetings so lets keep it up :o)
 
I will bring the Save Our Schools banner.  It would be really good if various areas / schools could be represented with placards etc so do your best to bring something along.
 
Can folk let me know if they can make it?
 
Cheers
AntheaTHE REST

lobby from 12 noon in front of the City Chambers.

2006-04-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

LOBBY LOBBY LOBBY
There is an Education Services Committee meeting this coming Thursday 27th.  We will lobby as usual from 12 noon in front of the City Chambers.I hope you'll do your best to attend this if at all possible.  It's really important that we continue to show the councillors we are not going away.  It's most likely that pressure wil be being put on them as we speak by the MSPs on the petitions committee after their meeting with Susan, Pauline and the others, and it's important for us to remain visible to remind them they need to take heed ...
 
Also, it was clear from the first of the 'shared catchment area' meetings last night that the officials have been briefed to make it clear that the previous consultation / decision should not be discussed at these meetings - what a shame for them that everyone present discussed it anyway!  
 
See you on Thursday with your placards 
 
Anthea



Save our schools day in parliament
2006-04-22T12:14:00.000-07:00
Straight from Parlament download the debate in living colour - Well worth the listen
Hi all,

Just thought I would write a wee bit about how things went yesterday. We were invited to speak at 10am, and were told at the beginning of the hearing that the Petitions Committee was short on time, which left us all feeling a wee bit dismayed to say the least!
However, when we started to speak and put our point across, I really feel we more than grabbed their attention, because we didn't finish til 11.o4am! We were all given way more than our 3 minutes and the petitions committee were, for the most part, really good, and made us feel comfortable. Jackie Baillie M.S.P and Charlie Gordon M.S.P were not so nice. Whaddyaknow? They are both Labour M.S.Ps!Anyway, we got a lot of support from Rosie Kane M.S.P (Scottish Socialist Party), Sandre White M.S.P (Scottish National Party), Alex Neil M.S.P (Scottish National Party), Caroline Leckie M.S.P (Scottish Socialist Party) and Campbell Martin (Independent). It was great to hear people who seemed to be sympathetic to the situation, and I personally will be e-mailing each one of them and thank them for their support. I think it would be a great gesture if we all e-mailed and thanked them! I really do believe they were appalled at the treatment of parents in both Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
We all left feeling very positive and really good, because we were all quite nervous, but I think the 4 of us who spoke done really well. We all felt we said everything we needed to say. We were all given a fair hearing, I feel.

Afterwards we spoke to the B.B.C, the Holyrood press officer, the Herald, Southside News and the Evening Times. We went outside and waved our banners too, and that picture is in todays E.T.

Anyway, you can see for what happened yourself if you log on to the Scottish Parliament website and click on Holyrood T.V, then click on petitions committee, then click committee room 6, then click on archives. I'm not that great and pasting web addresses onto e-mails, sorry! They only keep the footage for a month though, so be quick!

I really dont know what will happen now, but as soon as I know anything, I will let you all know.

Take care,

Pauline Gilgallon


BBC NEWS | Scotland | School closures consultation call
2006-04-20T13:59:00.000-07:00
BBC NEWS | Scotland | School closures consultation call


GCC Education Services have circulated a letter on the proposed change to non-denominational primary school catchment areas in the West End.
2006-04-17T15:42:00.000-07:00
GCC Education Services have circulated a letter on the proposed change to non-denominational primary school catchment areas in the West End.

The Council is seeking comments on the proposal in writing, using the response sheet no later than Friday 12 May 2006.

Public meetings to discuss the proposal will be held in:

Hyndland Primary School on Monday 24 April at 7pm
Oakgrove Primary School on Tuesday 25 April at 7pm
Anderston primary School on Thursday 27 April at 7pm



Parents unite in fight to save city schools - The Herald 6 April
2006-04-06T10:35:00.000-07:00
Parents unite in fight to save city schools - The Herald


Protest rally on Thursday 6th April at George Square
2006-03-29T08:50:00.000-08:00
Biggest event yet
Arrangements have been made to hold our protest rally
on Thursday 6th April at George Square. We intend to
walk around the streets on the perimeter of George
Square 2 or 3 times, then congregate and occupy either
the City Chambers, or Wheatley House.  This will
hopefully get us some publicity and show Ronnie
O'Connor and all of Glasgows Councillors that we are
still here and still protesting! 
 
As it is the Easter Holidays, the children could come
along too.  Obviously it is down to the individaul
whether or not they want their child/ren involved, but
I personally will be bringing along my 3 daughters. I
am after all, fighting on their behalf!
 
We will meet at 11.30 in George Square and move off at
12 noon.  We need as many people as possible to attend
this rally.  It is perhaps the most important protest
rally yet, as it is a city-wide united front!
 
Please inform and invite as many people as you can,
and it would also be a good idea for each of us to
invite along our local newspapers.  Banners and
suchlike with your schools name on them would also be
really good.
 
I have informed the Police that there will be about
100-150 people attending this rally, so please do your
best to be there!
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
me on 0792 114 8219 or e-mail me at
pauline@gilgallon.demon.co.uk
 
Thanks,
See you on Thursday!
 
Pauline G :o)
 




  


EducationGuardian.co.uk | eG weekly | Fourteen into three won't go
2006-03-21T13:28:00.000-08:00
EducationGuardian.co.uk | eG weekly | Fourteen into three won't go


2006-03-14T09:25:00.000-08:00
Lobby of Council 16 March
Save our Schools will be lobbying the Education Committee of Glasgow City Council on Thursday 16 March.  Meet at 12 noon in front of the City Chambers.  Bring placards and come out in force to tell the councillors that we have not given up and are not going to go away.       



Mothers Know Better than Education Bosses - Whats good for their kids
2006-03-13T14:51:00.000-08:00
Evening times story on sit in PARENTS from three Glasgow primaries targeted for closure are holding a sit-in for up to three nights in a last-ditch attempt to keep the schools open. More than 50 mothers and fathers whose children attend Carnwadric in the south side, St Edmund's in Pollok, and Dowanhill Primary in the west end are occupying all three buildings over the weekend. They arrived yesterday afternoon as the bell rang to finish lessons. Carnwadric parents intend to stay for three nights whilst the others will spend part of the weekend there. The sit-ins are being staged by campaigners of Save Our Schools, who are fighting Glasgow City Council's decision to close the schools under its pre-12 education strategy. Pauline Gilgallon, a mother-of-three and chairwoman of Carnwadric Primary School Board and leader of the SOS campaign, said: "We hope to be there until Monday morning to raise awareness. "Even though Glasgow City Council has rubber-stamped the proposals, we have found so many flaws in the council's consultation. "Nobody here with children at Carnwadric Primary wanted to move, yet the council went full steam ahead with it." In the west end, up to a dozen mothers occupied Dowanhill Primary in Havelock Street, waving Save Dowanhill banners as they took over the school. Among them was Heather Anderson, whose daughter Christina, 7, is at the school, while four-year-old son Calum attends the nursery. She said: "Perhaps a lot of parents think we are at the end of the road and the school will close, but we hope parents realise it is not the end."

 Education bosses want to shut Dowanhill, along with Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank primaries and Dowanhill and Willows nurseries, and merge them at a new Hillhead Primary, to be built in Otago Street.

 In the south side, it plans to merge Carnwadric with Arden Primary at a new building in Arden. bbbbbb In Pollok, the council wants to close St Edmund's and merge it with St Marnock's. However, this would mean youngsters would have to cross a busy road, which parents claim is too dangerous a route for kids to walk. 

 The parents were also furious when it was revealed StEdmund's would not close this year but, instead, would house pupils from Cartvale, Govan's special needs school, for two years.

 Now at least seven schools, including St Kevin's Primary in Langmuir Road, Bargeddie, which is also due to close, have joined the Save Our Schools campaign.

 St Kevin's, just outside the city boundary and run by North Lanarkshire Council, was also due to be occupied by parents this weekend. But the sit-in was cancelled because of increased security. bbbbb Parents said the high police presence around the school was terrifying children. bbbbbbb A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the sit-ins. The decisions on the future of these schools was decided at the education services committee meeting on February 2 and was agreed by councillors following a full public consultation." 

Protesters from St Edmund's have handed a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for an inquiry into the council's consultation process. bbbbbbb To coincide with the next meeting of the petitions committee on April 19, busloads of parents are to travel to Edinburgh and stage a protest outside the parliament. 


Carnwadric -sit- in
2006-03-13T08:59:00.000-08:00
Hats off to the parents too of St. Edmunds who were occupying their school from Friday 3pm right up until 9am this morning
Pauline here from Carnwadric.  There was 7 of us at the sit-in at Carnwadric, and we had a brilliant time!  Debbi brought in her karaoke machine and being in the gym hall, the acoustics were great, ha ha!  :o) Unfortunately the (80!) parents in Bargeddie couldn't do their sit-in because their was a heavy Police and Security presence, (North Lanarkshire Council!  Duh!?), and they couldn't get in, but Catriona Lessani from Bargeddies campaign came to Carnwadric on Friday night to show her support, so thanks for that Catriona!

We had Jackie Kemp (freelance journalist), come to the school and photographer Tom Finnie from the Guardian newspaper took some fantastic pictures in the gym with us and the kids.  He also took some brilliant pics of the kids behind the bars of the school gate.  It will be featured in the Guardian a week tomorrow,(Tuesday 21st) I think.  Tom also said he knew a few other journos who might be interested in the campaign, so watch this space!

Hats off to the parents too of St. Edmunds who were occupying their school from Friday 3pm right up until 9am this morning!  I'm sure it was hard going but I admire their staying power!  Haven't spoken with Susan yet, as I'm sure she is catching up on some much needed shut-eye!  But well done to everyone involved at St. Edmunds.  You should be dead proud of yourselves!.

I saw the coverage in Saturday E.T and it was great.  Loved the quote from Heather saying, "Perhaps a lot of parents think we are at the end of the road and the school will close, but we hope parents realise it is not the end".  Hopefully, some parents will read this and indeed see there is still a great deal we can do.  I know we all have experienced the "It's a done deal, isn't it?" or "Why are you bothering? It's a waste of time!" remarks. Maybe Heathers comment might make them think again.

I also couldn't get the papers report on-line, sorry Anthea!

On closing, I just want to say again, well done everyone!  A job well done!
Speak soon.....

Pauline G



BREAKING NEWS
2006-03-03T09:51:00.000-08:00
BREAKING NEWS WITH REGARDS TO GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL  PRE-12 STRATEGY PROPOSAL. 
It's Pauline Gilgallon here.  I am just this minute off the phone with Susan Green from St. Edmunds in Pollok.  Susan has just discovered that Ronnie O'Connor intends on moving the children from St. Edmunds in order NOT to build new houses, as was first thought, but actually to transfer a whole other school in Govan into the existing school building.  A school for children who have been expelled from all other schools in Glasgow.  This is written in the pre-12 strategy proposal! This is concrete proof, at last, that Ronnie O'Connor and his so called Consultation Process has been a sham from the very beginning.  Susan intends to forward this information to the petitions committee at Holyrood as soon as possible.  This cannot be ignored, and I feel will lead to the consultation process as a whole, being investigated thoroughly, possibly even being thrown out, which obviously will benefit every school in Glasgow.

Please, if you can, come along to meet with myself, Susan, and a few others from schools city-wide to discuss where we go from here, TOGETHER.  We will be meeting at Greggs the bakers, George Square, at 10am on Monday (6th March)morning.  From here we will go to a cafe or a pub, whatever, to finally get together and discuss the best way to carry on our protest as a group.  There is so much going on for each of us individually, we need to meet and do this as one body, not scattered throughout the city.  Strength in numbers!

Carnwadric parents have already raised enough money to hire a coach to take 50 people to Holyrood on the day the petitions committee meet.  Let me know if you want to come along, and we will arrange to pick you up.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY.  WE JUST NEED TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, AND WE WILL GROW STRONGER AS A GROUP REPRESENTING THE WHOLE CITY.

Thanks,

Pauline Gilgallon 


Save our Schools BBC Radio Scotland tomorrow
2006-02-28T12:54:00.000-08:00
Hi everyone
If you get a chance listen to BBC Scotland tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11.30 onwards, and particularly 12.15to 12.45 ish There will be a few items about schools, and Heather from the west end and Pauline from Carnwadric will be on there speaking for the campaign - brilliant :o)If you miss it. You can listen to it again on the internet

Cheers Anthea



CITY-WIDE SIT
2006-02-23T12:45:00.000-08:00
SAVE OUR SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
CITY-WIDE SIT IN PROTEST
FRIDAY 10TH MARCH 2006
Hi Everyone,
I am sending out this e-mail to ask for your support in the City-Wide Sit In protest.  So far, 3 seperate schools are taking part.  Carnwadric, Pollok and Bargeddie.  Would be great if many more schools could join us to make this a huge success!
 It is vital that we keep our campaign 'visible'.  I know we are all doing our own thing seperately, petitions, letter writing, rallies etcetera, but we have to keep the publicity around our campaign alive.  I know for sure Laura Coventry at the E.T would be extremely interested in writing something that is happening at the same time, city-wide.

BBC Radio Scotland also contacted me today about maybe doing a programme about the campaign in their Action Scotland programme.   I contacted Action Scotland weeks ago and now they have got in touch, and seem interested in what we are doing. Will let you know how this goes.

If you need to contact me with questions about having a sit in, and how exactly you go about doing such a thing, you can call me on  0792 114 8219.  Alternatively, put your questions on the blog!

Thanks, and remember UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL!  (I know it's a total cleche, but it's true!)  : 0 )


Pauline Gilgallon
Carnwadric Save Our Schools



Fight to save primary
2006-02-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

Parents call on tycoon to join fight to save primary
Full article


pre-12 phase4 investment
2006-02-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I have been reading the council website and note the decision to offer dual catchment areas to west end pupils is merely a proposal, it hasn't been given to us and needs to be campaigned for.See the text below from the council website. Considering how the council operates I'm not exactly sure what this may result in.
 Will the council be looking for a clear mandate from a majority of parents of existing pupils? (most of whom will have left by the time the new school is open.)
 Will they take into consideration comments made by parents of pupils to be?
 If they don't, will they go ahead with just the new school - once again raising the spectre of a 750+ Hillhead primary?
If we are to have more public meetings then I believe this needs to be a discussion point.
 
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/News/pre12phase4investment.htm
Proposal J
 
A new school to replace Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank Primary Schools. It will also accommodate Dowanhill and Willows Nursery Schools and be built on the gap site at Otago Street and Gibson Street.
 
There will be a further consultation beginning at Easter 2006 on the following proposals:-

    * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for Dowanhill to attend the new Hillhead PS or Hyndland PS
    * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for Kelvinaugh to attend the new Hillhead PS or Anderston PS
    * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for Willowbank to attend the new Hillhead PS or Oakgrove PS
 
Number of Primary Schools to close – Three; Dowanhill, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank, all with effect from the end of session 2007/2008.

A.S.


Lobby of Council, Thursday 9 Feb
2006-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:00
Good to see there is already a photo. We had a really good demo in front of the City Chambers, together with Council Workers angry about the prospect of losing jobs.
Save our schools!  Not cuts, no closures!  Save our jobs and save our schools!

Together there seemed to be about 200 of us and lots of placards and banners. People driving by were very supportive - lots of honking of horns - love the support, but hate the noise.

There wes lots of press - TV, radio and papers.  We should add the press coverage of our events to the blog.






Photo from Thur. demo George Square
2006-02-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

Click image for big pic.


Schools to close list
2006-02-07T12:25:00.000-08:00
List of Decisions
Proposal A

A new multiplex to replace Ruchill, Wester Common, Our Lady of Assumption 
and St Cuthbert’s Primary Schools. It will also accommodate the Ruchill 
Communication Disorder Unit and Wester Common Nursery School and be built on 
the football pitch adjacent to the former Ruchill Hospital.

Number of Primary Schools to close – Two; Ruchill and Our Lady of 
Assumption, both with effect from the end of session 2007/2008.

Proposal B

Maryhill Primary School to close at the end of session 2005/2006 and pupils 
transfer to Parkview Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One

Proposal C

A new school to replace St Bernard’s and St Robert’s Primary Schools. It 
will accommodate Woodacre Nursery and be built on the current site of St 
Bernard’s Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One; St Robert’s at the end of session 
2005/06.

Proposal D

A new school to replace Househillmuir, Burnbrae and Nitshill Primary 
Schools. It will also accommodate Burnbrae Children’s Centre and be built on 
the football pitches at Houshillmuir Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – Two; Burnbrae and Nitshill, both with 
effect from the end of session 2007/2008.

Proposal E

St Edmund’s Primary School to close at the end of session 2005/2006 and 
pupils transfer to St Marnock’s Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to Close – One

Proposal F

A new school to replace Bishoploch, Blairtummock, Commonhead and Rogerfield 
Primary Schools. It will also accommodate St Clare’s Day Nursery and be 
built on the site of the former St Clare’s Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – Three in total at the end of session 
2007/2008.

(The four schools will come together in one new building)

Proposal G

A new school to replace Easthall, Provanhall and Wellhouse Primary Schools. 
It will also accommodate Provanhall Primary School Nursery Class, Easthall 
and Newhurst Nursery Schools and Barlanark Communication Disorder Unit and 
be built on the site of the current Ogilvie Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – Two; Provanhall and Wellhouse, both 
with effect from the end of session 2007/2008.

Proposal H

Barlanark Primary School to close at the end of session 2005/2006 and pupils 
transfer to Sandaig Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close - One

Proposal I

A new school to replace St Jude’s and Ogilvie Primary Schools. It will 
accommodate the Barlanark Family Learning Centre and be built on the current 
site of Barlanark Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One in total at the end of session 
2005/06.

(The two schools will come together, eventually in one new building)

Proposal J

A new school to replace Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank 
Primary Schools. It will also accommodate Dowanhill and Willows Nursery 
Schools and be built on the gap site at Otago Street and Gibson Street.

There will be a further consultation beginning at Easter 2006 on the 
following proposals:-

   * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for 
Dowanhill to attend the new Hillhead PS or Hyndland PS
   * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for 
Kelvinaugh to attend the new Hillhead PS or Anderston PS
   * pupils currently residing within the approved catchment area for 
Willowbank to attend the new Hillhead PS or Oakgrove PS

Number of Primary Schools to close – Three; Dowanhill, Kelvinhaugh and 
Willowbank, all with effect from the end of session 2007/2008.

Proposal K

A new school to replace Notre Dame and St Peter’s Primary Schools. It will 
also accommodate Anderston Street Nursery School and be built on the site of 
the current Dowanhill Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One; St Peter’s with effect from the 
end of session 2008/2009.

Proposal L

Temple Primary School to close at the end of session 2006/2007 and pupils 
transfer to Knightswood Primary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close - One

Proposal M

A new school to replace Drumoyne, Elder Park and Greenfield Primary Schools. 
It will also accommodate the Govan Family Learning Centre and be built on 
the site of Pirie Park.

Number of Primary Schools to close – Two in total at the end of session 
2007/2008.

(The three schools will come together in one new building)

Proposal N

A new multiplex to replace Copeland, Hill’s Trust and St Saviour’s Primary 
Schools. It will also accommodate Broomloan Nursery School and be built on 
the site of the former St Gerard’s Secondary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One (either Copeland or Hill’s Trust) 
from the end of session 2007/2008.

Proposal O

A new school to replace St Anthony’s and St Jerome’s Primary Schools. It 
will be built on the current site of St Jerome’s Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One at the end of session 2005/06.

(The two schools will come together, eventually in one new building)

Proposal P

A new school to replace St Lousie’s and St Vincent Primary Schools. It will 
accommodate Thornlaw Nursery School and the St Vincent’s Communication 
Disorder Unit and be built on the football pitches at St Vincent’s Primary.

Number of Primary School to close – One; St Louise’s at the end of session 
2007/08.

Proposal Q

A new school to replace Arden and Carnwadric Primary Schools. It will 
accommodate the Jimmy Dunnachie Family Learning Centre and be built on the 
football pitches at Arden Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One; Arden at the end of session 
2007/08.

Proposal R

A new school to replace Sir John Maxwell and Tinto Primary Schools. It will 
accommodate Shawbridge Nursery School and Pollokshaws Day Nuresry and be 
built on the football pitches at Tinto Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One; Sir John Maxwell at the end of 
session 2007/08.

Proposal S

A new school to replace Quarrybrae Primary School. It will accommodate 
Quarrybrae Primary School Nursery Class and Parkhead Community Nursery and 
be built on the football pitches north of the existing Quarrybrae Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – None.

Proposal T

A new school to replace St Amrose and St Augustine’s Primary Schools. It 
will accommodate Milton Community Nursery and be built on the site of the 
former St Augustine’s Secondary School.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One at the end of session 2007/08.

(The two schools will come together in one new building)

Proposal U

St John’s Primary School to close and pupils transferred to St Francis’ 
Primary School.

Oatlands Nursery School will also close and pupils transferred to St 
Francis’ Primary.

Laurieston Day Nursery School will be relocated from St John’s Primary to 
Blackfrairs Primary.

Number of Primary Schools to close – One; St John’s at the end of session 
2005/2006.

session 2007/08.






2006-02-06T04:33:00.000-08:00
Feb @ 12noon PROTEST LOBBY of Council meeting @ City Chambers, George Sq UNITE with parents across the city & council staff fighting cuts This meeting of the full council will vote on plans to wipe out local schools Save our schools defend our kids’ future - defend our communities VOICE YOUR VIEWS save our primary & nursery schools

Thurs 9th Feb @ 12noon PROTEST LOBBY of Council meeting @ City Chambers, George Sq UNITE with parents across the city & council staff fighting cuts This meeting of the full council will vote on plans to wipe out local schools - despite massive opposition by parents and residents. The council Education Committee has ignored our views. This is an attack on education AND democracy. We must not give up the campaign to Save Our Schools. Join our protest lobby - voice your views.

Demand local, modern, easily accessible schools -with lower class sizes

The Council has conducted a sham consultation - now their Education Committee has trampled on public opinion and gone ahead with their closure plans.

 In the west end, they still plan to shut Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank primaries; Dowanhill and Willows nurseries ... and put over 500 kids into one school at Gibson St /Otago St. They want to shut St Peter’s and Notre Dame primaries; Anderson St nursery .... and replace it with a new Roman Catholic school on the Dowanhill site. they have ignored the public outcry against the Gibson St site, against super-sized schools being bad for our children, and done nothing to address the problem of classes of up to 33. The full Council meeting on 9th Feb will decide the fate of our kids and communities.

 So this PROTEST LOBBY aims to unite people from across Glasgow in protest at the crazy centralisation of our schools. 

JOIN US!

 All their plans will mean bigger classes; monster-sized schools that alienate young children; loss of community facilities; and often long and dangerous journeys to school. How are kids and parents meant to walk to Gibson St from many parts of this area? Or why should we be forced to add to car pollution?

 The proposed Gibson St site would be undersized, overcrowded with an initial 500+ kids, and add to isolation and bullying. The council now admits it would mean classes of 33. It would be built on a site where the Shish Mahal was demolished due to subsidence! .. Why don’t the Council invest in the existing LOCAL, easily-accessible schools?

 .. Why don’t they slash class sizes -to improve education - instead of closing down buildings that are at the heart of local communities? Join the PROTEST LOBBY. Show your feelings before the Council railroad through their plans.We won’t accept these attacks lying down! The campaign continues. Join us. 

 Join the united Save Our Schools campaign - set up to unite parents, staff and residents in defence of our kids and communities. Ring 07742889802. Email saveourschoolswest@yahoo.co.uk


Fury as council axes 28 Glasgow primaries
2006-02-04T01:18:00.000-08:00
The £128million project will result in 28 primaries closing and 16 new schools being built.Today defiant parents and their children held a protest march against the closure of their school, St Edmund's Primary in Pollok. FULL ARTICLE


Angry mums' save our school sit-in
2006-02-03T04:49:00.000-08:00

ANGRY mums staged an all-night sit-in protest at a Glasgow primary school.FULL ARTICLE


Dozens of Glasgow primary schools facing closure
2006-02-03T04:40:00.000-08:00
Despite public opposition, councillors yesterday voted to shut 28 of Glasgow's primaries and build 16 new schools in their place at various locations across the city. HERALD ARTICLE


Protest - Tomorrow at the City Chambers - As the councillors discuss the fate of our schools
2006-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00
The lobby!! 12noon city chambers. (Thur.) Bring placards and banners. The banner from the march will be there so we should benice and visible. A good showing tomorrow is really important the council or the ruling labour group at least may be expecting us to accept that they've made some concessions and stop our protest.  We must make it clear that the 'concessions' are completely unsatisfactory (not addressing issues of safety, community or class sizes, and not really evenaddressing school size - 500-550 is still too big) and the last thing we intend not to do is go away.  
 
 So SEE YOU TOMORROW!!  Even if only for a short while
 
 
The meeting tomorrow is an open meeting.  People can attend but not speak. As far as I know you can just go in  - i.e. you don't have to be accompanying a councillor or anything. If you have some free time in the afternoon please consider sticking around to go into the meeting - important to have observers, could put pressure on councillors and, even aside from that, it'll be good for us to have evidence of what's been discussed.  


PS I went in and viewed the submissions today and will
post something about my impressions of them when I get
a chance.  
All the best
Anthea



'Burgh Angel' free newsheet for Maryhill/Woodside/Possil (covering community news)
2006-02-01T01:57:00.000-08:00
Hi folks, I'm not a parent myself but I do feel strongly about the issue of the closure of all these primary schools across the city, it's an absolute joke and it seems to be happening with so many basic services, and I'll try and manage along on Thursday to this lobby.  Incidentally is that to meet up at the city chambers at 12pm? Myself and few others involved in the 'Burgh Angel' free newsheet for Maryhill/Woodside/Possil (covering community news) were at the recent unity march through the West End where I think we spoke to Anthea and a few others, and we'd really like to cover as much of the campaign across Glasgow as possible in our forthcoming edition (which currently reaches a lot of the shops and the libraries in the area), so if anyone is interested in contributing they can email me at the address below, otherwise I'll see and come along on Thursday with my dictaphone.  We'd also be quite happy to plug any events organised by the campaign. Nick ('Burgh Angel')
nick_durie@hotmail.com




Super-school to be scaled back to 500  Earmarked schools still to close
2006-01-31T14:10:00.000-08:00
Parents offered choice of Hillhead or nearest local school,It would be interesting to hear people’s assessment of the latest news on the schools front. I think I share the opinion of the parents who were quoted in the Times which portrayed the news as a “partial victory” for us.

 Here’s what I think: Firstly, the positives: the scaling back somewhat of the mega-school is a significant achievement for the campaign.  We have exposed and embarrassed them over this crazy plan.  Local people have channelled their anger, passion and determination into positive public meetings, lobbies, marches etc brilliantly.   In this respect it is a victory of sorts which should inspire us with confidence. They’ve wobbled. However, there is no question in my mind that the campaign must continue- with even greater vigour and urgency!  The council’s tactics are utterly scandalous!

 Why?  Look at the big picture:
 * the council’s plan to destroy 4 local community schools goes ahead! 
* Most kids – if they get into the “alternative” local schools – will have to travel further to school, still alongside busy roads and parkland. 
* How will local kids get into full schools like Hyndland? Will they then have to travel to Hillhead (no choice at all)?  And what are the implications for class sizes? 
* The council- and our councillors - have AMAZINGLY continued to maintain that class sizes of 33 are desirable for improvement of attainment and behaviour. 
* Local buildings will still be sold off to luxury developments with more cars and fewer families in communities. 
* So many questions still remain regarding the exact size, layout, roll and site of the new Hillhead school. 
* In reality what we’ve been offered are pathetic crumbs from the council’s chopping board and they expect us to be satisfied.
 * And what were our elected councillors doing? Were they raising howls of opposition to the monster-sized school and to rocketing class sizes when the community was in uproar? Not a squeak!  

 So what has happened?
 I say the campaign should reject these crumbs of cold comfort and expose this scandal for what it is.  At the start of the campaign, some of us thought, what are they up to with this super-sized school, it seems an utterly bizarre proposal, too bad to be taken seriously.  Even at the consultation meetings, officials looked rather embarrassed and ill at ease when asked if they’d seen the plans and why they hadn’t even calculated the ration of rooms to kids to teachers!!! Architects advised us it was pie in the sky, the plans had never seen the light of day etc. In short it seemed bound to fail in the teeth of serious opposition. 

 It could be this super-school is  a straw man, a lightning conductor, which would attract great opposition and then  the council could bin the idea, come back with some “less bad proposals” and take the credit for “listening” – and their mission, to destroy 4 schools as part of their programme of cuts -  is accomplished. This is not a conspiracy theory, it is what happens day in day out in politics: The press reports a leak that the chancellor is putting petrol up by 20p, then when he “only” puts it up by 15p a month later, you think, “Oh well, it’s not as bad as it coulda been!” 

 I think it would be a fatal mistake if we accepted this “concession” at face value.  If they get away with this here and now, they’ll be back for more schools in the future. Throughout this process the council has been banking on “divide and rule”, hoping some parents will accept the closures because they feel their kid/school will benefit.  And maybe now some parents are thinking, well it wont be so bad if we get into a good local primary.  That’s maybe an understandable reaction at this point. But I would urge everyone in the campaign to stay strong and to ensure people around you know exactly what is going on here and that our demand continues to be: SAVE OUR SCHOOLS- for local, modern, accessible schools with lower class sizes! 

 Andy Harvey Partick 


POLITICIANS, parents and residents alike rallied together last weekend to protest against council plans for a fresh wave of West End school closures.
2006-01-28T14:02:00.000-08:00
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


Glasgow City Council Pre-12 Strategy, Phase 4
2006-01-28T08:27:00.000-08:00
Glasgow City Council Pre-12 Strategy, Phase 4 affects nearly 70 schools throughout the city. Proposal J calls for the closure of 4 primary schools and 2 nursery schools in the west end.The affected schools and nurseries are: Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank.
The council plan to close the schools and sell the sites for property development - to maximise flat numbers on the sites they will be developed as "car-free", in other words on-street-parking.
To replace the schools a Super Size Me school will be built on the gap site on the corner of Gibson and Otago streets.
The school will have on its roll 683 pupils by 2010 There will be a nursery for a further 80 children.
The site will be 3,700 sq m of building and 1,540 sq m of ground space. The cost to the council will be £9,789,760
The site will include the gap site, the council depot, the Kelvin Way entrance and the sports fields. The building will be 4 storeys high with potential for growth!
Entrance for Kelvinhaugh and Dowanhill pupils and vehicles will be by the Kelvin Way entrance. Pupils from Hillhead and Willowbank will enter by the M8 arterial road, Gibson Street.
For more information about the protest please contact:
Anthea Irwin on 07742 889 802
saveourschoolswest@yahoo.co.uk

To register a protest, a point of order, an objection, your outrage or to suggest
alternatives you must put them in writing to
Executive Director (Education, Training and Young People)
Glasgow City Council,
Wheatley House,
25 Cochrane Street,
Glasgow
G1 1HL
Cut off date for letters to be received is Friday 9th December 2005