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30/4/2009It's decision time for kids from 'dangerous’ school


	Pupils were moved out of Golfhill Primary after 'significant' movement was found at the B-listed property in Dennistoun

PARENTS of primary children evacuated from a school when it became dangerous are being asked where they want pupils educated.

Structural engineers were called into Glasgow's Golfhill Primary in Circus Drive, Dennistoun in 2003 when movement was detected.

They ruled the B-listed property, which was built around 1900 and also housed Westercraigs Nursery, was safe.

But four years later, a new survey found there had been "significant" movement and warned it was likely to continue.

As a result city education bosses decided to move pupils out of the school as a matter of emergency to ensure their safety.

Both schools were moved to huts in the grounds of Whitehill Secondary and the children have been taught there ever since.

Earlier this year councillors decided to consult parents on a permanent solution for the youngsters and a consultation document has now been drawn up.

It suggests five options with the most expensive costing £16m and the cheapest just £300,000 a year. They include:

A new primary and nursery school on Armour Street to take Golfhill and St James' primaries and Westercraigs nursery. Cost: £6.5m to £9.5m.

A new primary and nursery on the vacated Golfhill primary building site. Cost: £8.5m to £10.5m.

Repairs to existing Golfhill Primary. Cost: £4.5m to £16m, depending on work carried out.

Moving Golfhill and Westercraigs pupils into spare accommodation at Whitehill Secondary. Cost: £1m to £2m.

Keeping youngsters in huts at Whitehill. Cost: £300,000 a year.

A report from executive education director Margaret Doran says: "It is widely recognised we are entering a period of global recession and the ability to generate the previous levels of investment will be severely curtailed over the next few years.

"The council however remains committed to securing a permanent solution to the accommodation requirements for Golfhill Primary and Westercraigs Nursery but this needs to be measured against the current economic climate.

"Consequently, the council needs to secure a solution that is affordable, deliverable within an acceptable timescale and supported by the local community."

As a result, she is recommending Golfhill Primary moves into spare accommodation in Whitehill Secondary during 2010/11.

Elaine Scott, whose three children all attend Golfhill, said: "In theory it sounds like a very good idea but in practice we have not yet had any written guarantees of the amount of space we will be allocated.

"If the council can guarantee to provide an equal or better standard of accommodation, without disrupting Whitehill, that would be admirable."