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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Close and merge plan for schools | Close and merge plan for schools |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than 2,000 children in Glasgow could be affected by proposals to close 13 primary schools and 12 nurseries. | More than 2,000 children in Glasgow could be affected by proposals to close 13 primary schools and 12 nurseries. |
| Councillors will be asked later this month to consult with parents, staff and unions over the move. | Councillors will be asked later this month to consult with parents, staff and unions over the move. |
| If final approval is given, children could be merged into new schools and nurseries from August. | If final approval is given, children could be merged into new schools and nurseries from August. |
| Some parents, who contacted the BBC, accused the council of being "underhand" and said the proposed consultation would be "a sham". | |
| Education officials have carried out a "city-wide assessment" of schools and nurseries which could be involved in potential mergers. | Education officials have carried out a "city-wide assessment" of schools and nurseries which could be involved in potential mergers. |
| See the list of schools and nurseries affected | See the list of schools and nurseries affected |
| This takes into account educational benefit, building capacity and occupancy, transport arrangements and the wider community impact. | This takes into account educational benefit, building capacity and occupancy, transport arrangements and the wider community impact. |
| The full proposals will go before the council's executive committee on 23 January, with further discussion planned for a meeting of the full council six days later. | |
| If approved, the proposed consultation process, including a series of public meetings, would last for six weeks. | If approved, the proposed consultation process, including a series of public meetings, would last for six weeks. |
| A final decision taken by the council would be expected by 23 April. | A final decision taken by the council would be expected by 23 April. |
| Glasgow City Council leader, Councillor Steven Purcell, said many of the schools and nurseries identified for possible closure were "crumbling and half empty". | Glasgow City Council leader, Councillor Steven Purcell, said many of the schools and nurseries identified for possible closure were "crumbling and half empty". |
| Councillor Steven Purcell explains the proposal to shut schools | |
| "Children deserve to be in better accommodation, but in this financial climate we cannot afford to build new schools and nurseries through prudential borrowing," he said. | "Children deserve to be in better accommodation, but in this financial climate we cannot afford to build new schools and nurseries through prudential borrowing," he said. |
| "In addition, the Scottish Government refuses to use PPP and there is no sign of its suggested replacement, the Scottish Futures Trust, being able to provide the schools and nurseries we need. | "In addition, the Scottish Government refuses to use PPP and there is no sign of its suggested replacement, the Scottish Futures Trust, being able to provide the schools and nurseries we need. |
| "In my opinion, our only option is to merge schools and nurseries. We plan to spend £5m improving the receiving schools and nurseries. | "In my opinion, our only option is to merge schools and nurseries. We plan to spend £5m improving the receiving schools and nurseries. |
| "The young people affected by the mergers will, in future, receive a better education in better accommodation." | "The young people affected by the mergers will, in future, receive a better education in better accommodation." |
| Some parents have contacted BBC Scotland to express their anger over the proposals. | |
| 'Sham consultation' | |
| Agnes Green from Glasgow said: "I've just been told that my son will have to move schools in August if this proposal goes through. | |
| "I can't believe the council was so underhanded. We were told three years ago that there was a new school getting built in the Ruchill area. | |
| "Now my child's supposed to go to Westercommon Primary in Possilpark. No way. I'm not standing for this." | |
| Paul McMillan from Glasgow said: "It's clear that this is a financially motivated decision as Glasgow City Council expects to save £3.7m per year from these closures. | |
| "There will be the all too familiar sham consultation process, and then the plans will be rubber-stamped by the council. | |
| "Merging nurseries and primary schools into large groups will not lead to better education for children. | |
| "The positive ethos and atmosphere which many of these smaller establishments currently have will be lost." | |
| The council said it had spent £550m on school building improvement over the past 10 years - building 64 new schools and refurbishing five others. | The council said it had spent £550m on school building improvement over the past 10 years - building 64 new schools and refurbishing five others. |
| These projects were funded using Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding, borrowing and receipts generated from the sale of surplus land and property. | These projects were funded using Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding, borrowing and receipts generated from the sale of surplus land and property. |
| Are you affected by the proposed closures? How would the plans impact on you and your family? Send us your stories. | Are you affected by the proposed closures? How would the plans impact on you and your family? Send us your stories. |