Protest group from Kirkintilloch launch latest bid to stop school merger plans

Published on 30/01/2013 08:01

THE latest group of worried parents to protest against prospective school mergers have accused council chiefs of “ignoring children in an attempt to sort out their financial problems”.

Mums and dads with pupils at St Agatha’s Primary, in Kirkintilloch, have mounted a campaign to stop the school from being merged with St Flannan’s Primary - in a new building located either at the current St Flannan’s or Oxgang Primary site.

It’s just one of several mergers proposed in a shortlist of controversial options drawn up following a review of the East Dunbartonshire Council’s primary school estate.

A group spokesperson told the Herald they felt the council should have consulted with parents extensively BEFORE drawing up the shortlist.

He added: “There has been a complete lack of consultation and we have all been left in the dark. Suddenly, now we have these few options to look at, with no choice which would preserve the identity of St Agatha’s.

“St Agatha’s is a small school with an excellent ethos and reputation and many parents chose to live here because of the school and its size.

“With these changes East Dunbartonshire Council are showing they are not interested in children. They want to create larger schools but bigger doesn’t mean better and it will be far easier for some children to slip through the net.

“Children should not be ignored in an attempt to sort out financial problems. The council can’t ignore our feelings.”

The parents are now distributing a leaflet and want everybody in the community to fill in the council’s consultation document - which can be completed until the consultation closes on February 4.

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Protest group from Kirkintilloch launch latest bid to stop school merger plans

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