Thomas Muir inspires name of new school

The votes have been counted and the names of two new primary schools in Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch have been decided.
Holy Trinity Primary name revealedHoly Trinity Primary name revealed
Holy Trinity Primary name revealed

In Bishopbriggs the new school, which will replace Woodhill and Auchinairn Primaries, is to be known as Thomas Muir Primary, bringing the name of the great Scottish political reformer back into everyday use.

The £12.4m development on the site of the existing Woodhill Primary will also provide a replacement for the current Cleddens Learning & Childcare Centre.

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The name was picked following a consultation by the interim parent council with both school communities and local councillors, and with input from local historians.

The voting results were as follows:

- Hillview Primary: 110 votes (35 per cent)

- Thomas Muir Primary: 143 (46 per cent)

- Westerhill Primary: 55 votes (17.5 per cent)

- Undecided: 5 votes (1.5 per cent)

Meanwhile, in Kirkintilloch, more than two hundred people recently voted in a poll to decide the name of their new primary.

The new £8m school being built to replace St Flannan’s and St Agatha’s primaries will be called Holy Trinity Primary.

It was picked following a consultation by the interim parent council with both school communities, local councillors and church representatives.

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A shortlist was narrowed down to two potential names - St Francis of Assisi and Holy Trinity - with the winner receiving 118 votes (58 per cent) compared to 85 votes (42 per cent) for the runner-up.

Both are being built as part of East Dunbartonshire Council’s controversial Primary School Improvement Programme (PSIP) - which has seen a number of schools merged into new buildings.

The council’s Education Committee recently approved both names, while Holy Trinity Primary has been given the green light by the Archdiocese.

Education committee vice convener, Councillor Manjinder Shergill said: “Thomas Muir, the father of Western Democracy, who hailed from Bishopbriggs in the 18th century, has long been honoured in the town.

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“Until 2006 there was a high school named after him and a Council building also bore his name.

“This new school is an ideal opportunity to once again recognise the important role he plays in the history of the town.

“Work on the school is progressing well and agreeing a name is a major step forward.”

Education Committee convener, Councillor Maureen Henry, who met pupils from each school with local councillors at the construction site of the new school to celebrate the news, added: “This is a significant milestone in the life of the new school as work progresses on site towards opening in Spring 2017.

“Now that the school has a name and an emerging identity, both school communities can get behind it as they continue to work together during this transition time.”