Decision time for future of single-sex school
A CONSULTATION on whether to let boys into Scotland’s last remaining statefunded single-sex school will be considered by officials next week.
Glasgow City Council’s administration committee is expected to rubber-stamp the new proposals to decide the future of Notre Dame High School, in the city’s west end, on March 7th.
That would trigger a full consultation with parents and other organisations such as the Catholic Church.
While there are still a handful of private girls’ schools in Scotland, Notre Dame, a Catholic school founded in 1897, is the last remaining one in the comprehensive system.
The consultation was drawn up after families from the co-educational Notre Dame Primary called for the council to let boys into the secondary.
However, many parents feel strongly about preserving the status of the secondary, including families from both the Muslim and Catholic communities.
The consultation will look at three options including the two extremes of either no change at all or of allowing the school to accept boys.
A third option would retain the single-sex status of the school but would add more local primary schools to its catchment area.
Currently, nearly three-quarters of the school’s pupils come from across the city after applying through placing requests.
In a report to the committee, Chris Cunningham, the council’s education spokesman, said: “Over a long period of time parents from across the city are choosing or have chosen single-sex education in Notre Dame High. Retaining this option would benefit families for whom this is a preference.
“Moving to co-education would support families who wish siblings to attend the same secondary school within their community.”
Mr Cunninghame said a move to co-educational status would alter the school dynamic and that the curriculum may also alter.
He said: “This may increase the range of options available to all pupils. Socially, co-education could provide a more realistic experience in terms of preparation for future study and work.
“However, current pupils regularly describe the benefits of girls-only education in relation to improving their confidence, particularly in science-related subjects.”
Mr Cunningham also said the current situation where pupils came from 50 different primary schools across the city was a “significant challenge”.