Parents hit out at 'bursting at the seams' Glasgow primary school issue

The parents of pupils at Wallacewell primary said pupils were having to take staggered break times because there were too many to fit in the dinner hall at once, and that classes were also being split up as a result of overcrowding

They also said part of the school roof had holes in it, temporary classrooms were ‘past their lifespan’ and the school facilities were struggling to cope with the number of pupils.

The problems have sparked concerns that local children are now being denied places because of issues impacting space within the building. 

Glasgow City Council insisted that there are no current waiting lists for any stage of the school and everyone who enrolled for P1 has a place for waiting for them in August.

The council also said roof repairs were underway.

Chloe Porter is one of the worried mums and told the local democracy reporting (LDR) service that the lunch room at Wallacewelll is too small, there is no music room and the gym hall has holes in the roof.

Chloe also said that the six huts being used as additional classrooms are “past their lifespan”.

She explained: “Wallacewell Primary is oversubscribed and we have invited the director of education to come and discuss our concerns at one of our community meetings.

“The council says there is space for 454 pupils and there is currently 440 so from a blanket approach they are saying there is capacity in that school however when you walk around the school it is bursting at the seams.

“The dinner hall is too small, the school has to split breaks to try and accommodate all the children’s lunch and some of the pupils are having lunch in the gym hall.

“The children don’t have a music room and there are musical instruments pushed up against the sides of the gym hall.

“Six of the classrooms are in huts which were put in as a temporary measure when the school opened and are now well past their sell by date. 

“My son fainted when it was too hot and last year there were a few weeks when the heating was broken in another hut and the children were having to split the class 50:50.

“Half would go into the main school for half the day then come back to the hut and work for the rest of the day with their jackets on.”

The mums have also claimed there is a lack of areas for children to safely play in school. The football pitch is too old and the playground is too small.

Fiona Bond,  a parent of two at Wallacewell, said: “Classrooms are dated and cleaning is left to the teachers to do.

“As for the huts they are disgusting- there is lack of circulation and sometimes heating make them an unpleasant place to learn. “The state of the pitch means it’s a health and safety hazard meaning the kids play on the small concrete playground.

“The older ones can’t play with balls as they’re damaging the huts due to the size of space… so they are bored at breaks.

“And they are kept inside during wet weather and sit in their classrooms.

“Education and wellbeing of the kids is suffering at Wallacewell Primary School due to the lack of council interest and funding for improvements.”

They have written to Douglas Hutchinson, director of education for Glasgow City Council, about their concerns but have yet to hear back with a solution.

Chloe continued: “Another concern is that the football pitch is not fit for purpose.

“We feel that the director of education is ignoring the people of Robroyston in their requests for a solution.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “There are no current waiting lists at any stage (P1 – P7) at the school and everyone who enrolled for P1 has a place for the new August term.

“Roof repairs are in the process of being completed.

“Officers will continue to liaise with elected members and school staff about any concerns and will keep the school community updated on developments.”