Barmulloch primary school near Springburn in the north of Glasgow was built in 1959. It was designed to accommodate 462 children. Now, just 189 attend.

Over the past few years it has fallen into a state of disrepair and is regularly attacked by vandals. It is now deemed to be a category D school by inspectors who rated the state of the building as “very poor”.

One Glasgow city councillor said: “We say D for dangerous.”

Those in favour of shutting the school claim that too much money is being spent on heating a half-empty school and that money would be better spent on educating the children.

Glasgow City Council plans to shut Barmulloch and move the pupils to St Gilbert's School, three-quarters of a mile away.

The report of an inspection carried out at the school last November said: “The school now performs well overall. It now provides a good standard of education.

“Key aspects which had previously had important weaknesses have now reached at least a satisfactory level. With continued positive leadership, commitment of staff and support from the authority, the school is now well placed to continue to improve.”

Tommy Sheridan of the Solidarity Party, who is supporting parents fighting the closure plans, said: “A school is about much more than a building. It needs to be accessible not just for dropping off but for after-school activities. Some people are facing having to give up jobs because their childcare arrangements cannot cope with the extra travel.”

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