‘We shall not be moved’ vow parents

Parents from a school that teaches children with learning and physical disabilities are ready to stand their ground with Glasgow City Council.

The Council aim to move the 23 pupils of Richmond Park school in Oatlands up to Kelbourne School in the north end of the city.

But with concerns over the upheaval and disruption to the children this may cause, parents are saying they will defy the council, and not send their kids across the city to the new school.

Anna Williams, from Parkhead, has a son Frazer, 11, who is primary 7 at Richmond Park School.

She said; ‘The Kelbourne School is an old Victorian building, it’s not built for the purpose. And at the end of the day it’s me that will decide if my child is going or not. Personally I’m not sending him there.

‘They will be sharing with kids at Kelbourne, but that’s not the problem – it’s the fact that my boy, who is in primary 7, will will to move school for a few months then have to move again to Secondary school – it’s all very disruptive.’

Councillor Jonathan Findlay, Executive Member for Education explained that this is just one part of a process involving five schools, for children with varying degrees of learning difficulties, across the city.

The plans will see the children from Hampden School relocating at Richmond Park.

He said: ‘The Council is taking the potential impact on each child at each of the schools involved in the consultation very seriously indeed.

‘It is envisaged that by merging, relocating and investing in these schools, they will be better able to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.’

A further spokesperson for Glasgow City Council insisted that a full consultation process was in place, but were unable to pass comment until it’s completion, on 11 November.

Anna Williams went on to explain that the meetings so far have been of little hope to the parents.

She said; ‘We met with a representative from the council and Frazer asked him if he would help to save his school for him.

‘The man replied that he would have to send something in in writing. I think this gives you some idea how out of touch the council are with our childrens’ needs.

‘The parents along with the good people of Oatlands Community are all working together to reverse this crazy decision.

‘The people round here are brilliant and are helping us every step of the way but it’s going to take a miracle to reverse the decision already made by the council.’