A PUBLIC consultation must be held on admitting boys to the last single-sex state secondary school in Scotland, campaigners claim.
Only girls are allowed to enrol at Notre Dame High in Glasgow, a policy which can see siblings separated.
Now the Notre Dame High for All (NDH4All) group is calling on the city council to hold a consultation on overturning the boy ban. The campaign was founded by parents of youngsters from feeder school Notre Dame Primary.
Current rules mean female pupils graduating from primary seven are automatically enrolled Notre Dame High and cannot attend St Thomas Aquinas in nearby Jordanhill with male friends and brothers.
An application can be made to gain a desk at non-denominational alternatives, but campaigners argue that these are over-capacity.
They say excess places at Notre Dame make ending the single-sex rule a no-brainer to maintain friendships and make things easier for families.
A review of secondary catchment areas will be held later this year, and the group wants the local authority broaden the process to include the consultation.
Greens councillor Tanya Wisely says her group is “fully supportive” of the move, while Councillor Martin Rhodes of Labour said his colleagues are taking the issue “very seriously”.
He added: “I understand that this is an issue that could affect thousands of people across our city, and that there is a diversity of opinion among parents and carers. As such, we are of the view that any decision should be informed by as wide a range of input as possible.”
NDH4All spokesperson Niamh Breakley, whose three sons attend Notre Dame Primary, said: “The current situation is blatantly unfair as our children are the only primary school pupils in Scotland who do not have the right to transition to their local secondary with their siblings and friends.
“Notre Dame High is a local secondary school, but it is excluding and failing local children with this antiquated policy.”
A bid for consultation was rejected in November and Breakley said: “Scotland is supposed to be a forward-looking country yet Glasgow City Council continues to operate the country’s only single-sex school and seems content to delay and hope our campaign goes away.
“By failing to consult now, it is increasing uncertainty for everyone and ignoring the distress caused to each group of local P7 pupils, year after year. A consultation is needed, and it is needed now.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “Our secondary school catchment consultation will result in a consistent system being adopted across Glasgow and has to be concluded before we can consider a consultation on the future of Notre Dame High School.
“Education officers continue to liaise with the various parent groups who have a range of opinions
“We would urge all interested parties to make their views known as part of the secondary catchment exercise in order that they shape any future potential changes.”
However, Wisely dismissed the catchment issue as a reason for delay, saying: “It is imperative that this consultation is carried out within this academic year and we are working to ensure that this is the case.
“It would make no sense to proceed with the wider consultation with this matter unresolved.”
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