Schools bosses in U-turn on boys
EDUCATION bosses have confirmed they WILL consult on whether to open Scotland’s last remaining girls’ school to boys.
Parents have been campaigning for Glasgow City Council to launch a consultation into the future of Notre Dame High School.
But unhappy parents are being asked to have patience as there will be a delay in the consultation going ahead.
This week one group, Notre Dame High 4 All (NDH4All), handed in a 1400-signature petition to the council.
An opposing group, Girls for Notre Dame, hopes to preserve the single sex status of the school.
The council had said it would wait until a catchment area review consultation is completed and then consider seeking views on Notre Dame.
But now Chris Cunningham, convener for education, skills and early years, has confirmed a con- sultation will go ahead.
He spoke in response to a question from Labour councillor Martin Rhodes, who asked if he would “re-consider the Council’s rejection in July of a consultation request by parents on the admissions policy of Notre Dame High?”
Mr Cunningham responded: “We have taken the view that a consultation on Notre Dame, now and in isolation, would not be appropriate.
“Our intention is that all secondary catchment areas should be delineated, that is they should be based on a clearly defined geographic area.
“This will provide clarity for all parents across the city. We believe therefore that the wider catchment area consultation must come first.
“However the question of the school’s status is a matter that cannot be wished away and having now heard from both sides it is difficult to see how it can be resolved without asking for the views of all those involved, in other words, by carrying out a consultation.
“I can therefore confirm that it is our intention, following the city wide reviews.
“I should also be clear that this is not a straightforward issue to address and that there is still a lot of work to be done.”
NDH4All spokeswoman Niamh Breakey, mum of three boys at Notre Dame Primary School in Partick, said: “Contrary to the council statement on this issue, there is no requirement to conduct their wider consultation first, that is a choice that the administration have made, and is clearly nonsensical.
“Any change to the status of Notre Dame High would require a reconsideration of catchment areas and should be included alongside the current proposals so everyone can have their say.”