Hillhead Primary School - Stop the Catchment Change!

[JTER]

Hi Mumsnetters!

Further to a previous thread on Hillhead Primary School being oversubscribed, I've started the petition "Glasgow City Council: Stop the Proposal to Change the Catchment Area for Hillhead Primary School in Glasgow" and need your help to get it off the ground.

Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link:

www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/glasgow-city-council-stop-the-proposal-to-change-the-catchment-area-for-hillhead-primary-school-in-glasgow

Here's why it's important:

Glasgow City Council is proposing that, from August 2015, 5-year olds in the geographical area local to Hillhead Primary School will not be able to attend their nearest school and will be required to cross the city, across multiple busy and dangerous city centre roads, to attend a primary school that is not in their local community. Glasgow City Council has numerous options it could consider, rather than re-drawing the current catchment boundary and creating an artificial one.

Please help to stop this proposal, which is currently being consulted upon, and has a public consultation end date of 29th September 2014. I'm seeking 1,000 signatures to support this before that date. Please ask your friends to sign, so we can at least show Glasgow City Council that our children and their parents have a voice in this decision.

It is most important that you also email your objections to: [email protected].

If this boundary change is approved, Glasgow City Council has declared an intention to undertake a further statutory consultation on the 'delineated areas' of Hyndland Secondary School and Hillhead High School also (to reflect the changes to the primary catchment areas).

Thank you.

Hi, sorry I don't reside locally but have deep local connections.

Have you spoken with your local MP(S)? If not I would recommend getting in contact with Ann McKechin (Raeberry St) or Drew Smith (Woodlands Road). They are both approachable with a genuine local interest.

Surely the simple logistics make the proposal insane. Imagine having a child in Hilllhead primary and another in Cowcaddens nursery (merely one of many possibilities). Not only would they be removing a child from their neighbourhood peers but also removing the healthy and eco friendly option to walk.

Thank you, WanderingDownTheLane. The logistics in the proposal make no sense! I'm about to start contacting the MPs now, though one of the local councillors advised me that the timing of the consultation is terrible, as it opened just as councillors and MPs started summer recess. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is also happening now, so people's attention seems to be diverted towards that, rather than thinking about school catchment areas. I've pledged to fight this, on behalf of my 4 year old and 2 year old, even if I don't win.

Do you have a link to the actual proposal?

Good for you!

The two I mentioned are in the constituency today if you call. Also they both have office managers who deal with work on their behalf (Parliamentary recess is practically non existent with the upcoming referendum).

Great advice, WanderingDownTheLane! Thank you - I'll get in touch with them today.

EnglishWeegie, here's a copy of the actual proposal:

www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=19668&p=0

The problem is that this school is just not big enough. It is taking 99 p1's this year.

It is already over capacity - they are putting temporary toilets in the playground at the moment. There is no IT suite, no library, no general purpose room currently. To play football the head teacher gives up his lunch break to walk children to a pitch in the park.

Closing the nursery is awful - but it would provide essential
Extra space. Redrawing the catchment will take some pressure off.

I understand they have re zoned the catchment so that more pupils will attend Hyndland.

The sticking point is woodlands/ park area - I think the council assume that those living in 'Park' will just go private.

Any further forward JTER?