Glasgow City Council's Operational Delivery Scrutiny Committee today agreed unanimously to return the decision on Gadburn School to the Executive Committee to think again.

After a two hour session discussing the merits and processes of integrating pupils with Additional Supported Learning needs, the Committee accepted a motion from Bailie Gerry Leonard to reject the Executive Committee decision and to request the Education Department to continue discussions with parents and local elected members to seek a solution to co-location at Barmulloch Primary School in such a way that Gadburn School retains its identity and headteacher.

Commenting on the decision, SNP Councillor Grant Thoms who led the review of the decision: “After a very full and frank discussion, I am pleased that the Scrutiny Committee agreed with local councillors that a better solution for Gadburn School and Barmulloch Primary School being located together.

"Local councillors made the successful case that with a bit more time, parents could be reassured, the site could be better designed, and the longer-term potential merger of the schools would be more likely. Now we should take one step at a time, not rush parents into a situation which left them concerned that their children could be faced with a backward step into mainstream education. This was a decision to back common sense."

Bailie Phil Greene who was also a co-signatory and Springburn Councillor: “Really there was no need for such a hashed decision to have been taken before Christmas and thankfully the Scrutiny Committee has recognised the common sense in delaying a final decision. I have been working with parents from both Barmulloch and Gadburn and I can see that a solution is close but what was being forced on both groups could have a resulted in over £300,000 of building works which would then not be used. We have to stop the wasteful thinking and actions of Glasgow City Council.

"The Executive Committee will now be faced with deciding whether to ignore the concerns of parents, local councillors and the Scrutiny Committee or delay proposals to find a more workable solution."