Parents raise concern over school security

Fears were sparked earlier this year when it’s alleged a five-year-old boy walked out of Balmuildy Primary, in Bishopbriggs, and ended up in his grandparents’ home, under half-a-mile away.

Now mums claim they were recently able to gain access to toilets in the school via doors leading from the playground, which were unlocked.

Parents say that despite meeting with the head teacher and raising concerns with East Dunbartonshire Council, little has been done to improve security.

A mum said: “When I collected my son from school recently I was made aware that the doors were open.

“I made my way through the school to see how far I could get without being questioned.

“I asked why I was able to do this and I was told I shouldn’t have been.

“The doors are opened just before bell time, but this was 15 minutes before. The council’s quality improvement officer said that on that day the doors were opened much earlier than they should have been.

“The council said they don’t have plans to make the school safer. I feel they are putting budgets before child safety.”

Parents have suggested that sensors be put on the infant doors, to alert staff that they have been opened.

Another mum said: “I was shocked that the doors to the toilets were open. I went to use the toilet at 2.40pm, but the school doesn’t close until 3pm.

“The gates to the school are never locked.

“In this day and age there is no room for error. It should be maximum security.

“I feel this is down to funding and they are trying to brush it under the carpet.”

Gordon Currie, East Dunbartonshire Council’s head of education, said: “We treat security at all schools as our utmost priority and it is always our primary concern to keep children safe.

“Council officers are working with school staff, following a concern raised by a parent, to look at security procedures in the school and, if required, appropriate action will be taken to improve the security system.”

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