Parents fear long term problems

The warning came in response to proposals to combine secondary schools in East Kilbride.

The scheme includes merging Ballerup High with Duncanrig and Claremont High with Hunter High.

Now parents are reported to be considering staging demonstrations at polling stations during the May Scottish Parliament election.

In recognition of parents' concerns South Lanarkshire Council has extended a consultation period on the changes from 28 days to 82.

We are considering putting up a candidate to take on our local MSP Colin McCartney, Parents Against Closure

St Bride's School, which was ranked 24th in the national league table of Higher performance, is earmarked for merger with St Andrew's School, which came 227th out of 250.

Colin McCartney, of campaign group Parents Against Closure, claimed the move would have damaging consequences.

"We are going to fight them all the way," said Mr McCartney.

"We are considering putting up a candidate to take on our local MSP to highlight to the people of East Kilbride the devastating effect this will have on our town for the next 30 to 40 years."

'Improvement opportunity'

Glasgow schools have undergone radical restructuring over the past two decades.

In 1984 there were 55 secondaries, now the number stands at 29.

Jim Duffin, head of school development at South Lanarkshire Council, said: "We have an opportunity here from the funding which we hope to get from the Scottish Executive to do something very significant about improving the quality of our school buildings".