Published: Wednesday, 1st July, 2009 1:00pm

Parents' Anger at South Ayrshire Merger Plan

by Roisin McGroarty

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Catholic 'Super Campus' Attacked

ANXIOUS parents at a Prestwick primary have had an urgent meeting to discuss fears of their school being closed or merged.

St Ninian"s Primary School in Prestwick was packed last week with 40 to 50 parents worried it will be one of several catholic schools facing the chop.

The worry comes as South Ayrshire Council"s review of the school estate is released raised questions on the future of denominational provision in the area.

In fact the report, which was unveiled at the Leadership Panel, discussed a "review of non denominational provision in Ayr, Maybole, Mossblown and Prestwick should be undertaken with a view to establishing a combined 5 to 18 denominational campus at Queen Margaret Academy".

Parents are angry that no consultation has been offered on the suggested move with families left uncertain as to the future of their schools.

The worry prompted the South Ayrshire"s Labour group to call it into the scrutiny panel to review the decision based on equality issues, whether it is best value and what funding implications it could have.

Speaking after the scrutiny panel, local Labour leader Councillor John McDowall revealed they had major concerns of it being discriminatory to catholic education.

John said: 'We had called it in as we had concerns about possible discrimination towards denominational education for primary pupils.

'They want to close several primary schools in Ayr, Prestwick, Mossblown and Maybole and that would mean that catholic children would have to travel for their education while non-denominational pupils don"t."

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