Glasgow school protest moves out of class and onto Parliament

Jul 14 2009

A GROUP of parents protesting against school closures in Glasgow have ended their occupation of a north side primary.

Now they are set to descend on the Scottish Parliament as their protest against Glasgow City Council's proposals step up a gear.

Members of the Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign (GSOSC) have staged a second sit-in at Wyndford Primary School since June 26.

It follows a two-week protest over the course of the Easter holidays.

The parents staged their sit-in in protest at the city council's decision to close 11 primaries and nine nurseries amid falling school rolls and deteriorating buildings.

Campaigners are concerned that the changes will lead to larger class sizes, poorer education standards and longer travelling distances for people.

And they say their  fight will continue with a petition delivered to the Scottish Parliament.

The decision to leave Wyndford, in the Maryhill area of the city, follows the collapse of a legal challenge, according to GSOSC organiser Richie Venton.

He said: "The fearless fighters who staged this sit-in to defend a school from the Labour council vandals deserve the highest public praise and applause."

Plans to shut the facilities and move pupils to other schools were approved by councillors on April 23 following a six-week consultation.

The council said it will spend s5 million on refurbishments at the schools and nurseries receiving pupils from those due to close.

Now they are set to descend on the Scottish Parliament as their protest against Glasgow City Council's proposals step up a gear.

Members of the Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign (GSOSC) have staged a second sit-in at Wyndford Primary School since June 26.

It follows a two-week protest over the course of the Easter holidays.

The parents staged their sit-in in protest at the city council's decision to close 11 primaries and nine nurseries amid falling school rolls and deteriorating buildings.

Campaigners are concerned that the changes will lead to larger class sizes, poorer education standards and longer travelling distances for people.

And they say their  fight will continue with a petition delivered to the Scottish Parliament.

The decision to leave Wyndford, in the Maryhill area of the city, follows the collapse of a legal challenge, according to GSOSC organiser Richie Venton.

He said: "The fearless fighters who staged this sit-in to defend a school from the Labour council vandals deserve the highest public praise and applause."

Plans to shut the facilities and move pupils to other schools were approved by councillors on April 23 following a six-week consultation.

The council said it will spend s5 million on refurbishments at the schools and nurseries receiving pupils from those due to close.