Is south school closing early?

Jan 29 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

TEN children have now jumped ship from a closure-hit Paisley primary school that will shut for good in June.

South Primary, in Neilston Road, is being closed by Renfrewshire Council because it is two-thirds empty and costs too much to run.

There has been some confusion about when families have to make placing requests for alternative schools outwith their catchment area.

One mum told us: “A load of children have already left, and we were wondering if the council is closing the school early? Some parents say they have been told if they put in a placing request and it is accepted then their child has to move straight away.

“But this goes against education department advice that says you shouldn’t move your child from school during the school year.

“It has always been the case that when a request is accepted the child wouldn’t move to a new school until August.”

Parents teamed up to run the high-profile Save South School campaign to try and save the school, and this effort included an approach to First Minister Alex Salmond for help.

They also staged a peaceful protest at the council’s Paisley HQ, which saw 100 emotional children and parents marching through the town singing – led by a piper.

But their efforts were in vain as, following consultation, the council’s education chiefs confirmed that the school will close permanently in June.

A council spokesman stressed that confusion has been caused by circulating rumours.

He said: “There are a lot of rumours that parents with children at the school may not be able to place them in the schools where they want to go in August because there may not be enough room in their chosen schools. So far these fears have led to ten children being taken out of the school through placing requests.

“We would like to reassure parents that we will do our best to place their children in the school of their choice and that we do not anticipate that there will be a shortage of places at any of the nearby schools.

“Todholm, for instance, has a capacity of 350 pupils while its current school roll is 207. It could take all of South Primary’s pupils and still have room left over.”

The council has urged parents NOT to move their youngsters until the start of the new term in August.

He added: “While parents may be moving their children now, the teachers from South Primary won’t be taking up their new posts at neighbouring schools till June. This means that these school currently may not have the capacity to take placing requests from South Primary, but they will have when the teachers move.

“Any child who is in the catchment area for a particular school is guaranteed a place at that school and does not need to make a placing request.”