Threats to future of high schools

As many as three secondary schools in Paisley were under threat of the axe, we reported in September 1978.

This became clear as the group set up to look at Paisley’s falling schools’rolls held its first meeting.

The Paisley Review Group called for reports on the repercussions of closing either two or three nondenominational secondaries.

Into this category came Paisley Grammar, Merksworth High, Camphill, Stanely Green, John Neilson and Castlehead.

The group, made up of regional councillors, parents’representatives, and a head teachers’ representative, all agreed that the current six-school system was not viable.

They also discounted closing just one school.

The group was to meet weekly to look at all aspects of education in Paisley, although most of their time inevitably, would be taken up with finding a solution to the problem of too many secondary school places for too few pupils.

Consultations were to take place with parents and teachers all the way through the process, stressed the chairman of the group, Councillor Bob Wilson, a regional councillor from Lanarkshire, appointed for his impartiality.

He said:“Fifty per cent at least of any savings will be redeployed in education.

“This review group will have every right to suggest how such money should be spent.”