PARENTS and “heartbroken” pupils have reacted angrily to proposals to close Glasgow’s elite School of Sport.
A paper due to be discussed at the council’s City Administration Committee on Thursday (February 27) was withdrawn at the start of the meeting, with the chairperson explaining that a new paper would be submitted at a future date.
If the plans go ahead, Scotland's only elite sports school, based at Bellahouston Academy, will close in June 2026 and be replaced with a bursary scheme.
Outside the Southside school, shocked current and former pupils said they “could not imagine Glasgow without the school of sport.”
Swimmer Rebecca Strachan, 16, from Hamilton, who is in fifth year, said: "It's just so disappointing. Everything is so vague, no-one knows what is happening and we're all worried."
Dean Patterson, former pupil and successful 200m runner (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)
Dean Patterson, 19, who spent three years at the school and is now a Commonwealth Youth Games and World Junior Championships silver medallist in the 200m, said: “It feels really short-sighted that the only sport school in the country is being shut down.
“And to do it just as the Commonwealth Games comes to Glasgow is ironic. It’s really sad, people are heartbroken. I would never have had the opportunities and success I’ve had if I hadn’t come here.”
Parents were told on Friday about the proposals.
Jensen Basketter with his dad, John (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)
Fiona Lawrie and John Basketter, whose son Jensen won his first international swim meet medal at the weekend, said the situation was “horrendous”.
“This came completely out of the blue,” said John. “There was no proper consultation.
“We were told when Jensen was offered a place that funding for the school was an issue, but that whatever happened, our child’s training and education would last the full six years. And now this? It’s a huge shock.
“They are talking about a review, but there has been no proper review – no-one has talked to the pupils, or the coaches, or the parents. That is not a consultation.”
Sprinter Oliva Fisher, 13 (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)
Olivia Fisher, 13, is one of the top three sprinters for her age group in Scotland.
“I don’t know what I’ll do without the school,” she said. “This is rubbish. For me and my friends, it affects our academic studies too because we have to choose our subjects but we do fewer than other students to fit in our training. Now we'll have to leave in the middle of our National 5s which is not great.”
READ NEXT: Petition launched to save under-threat School of Sport
Olivia’s dad, Owen, said: “This came as a huge shock. Olivia had to sign an agreement that lasts from first year to sixth year, about her commitment and behaviour – she’s held up her side of the bargain, what about the council?”
Donna Smith, whose 14-year-old daughter Kayla is a talented swimmer, said the proposal to replace the school with a bursary scheme is “nonsense.”
“It’s all smoke and mirrors,” said Donna. “How will they be able to provide bursaries, when they say they have no funding?”
Kayla takes two trains to get to school from her home in Baillieston, explained Donna.
“She could go to Bannerman High, which is three minutes’ walk from where we live, but she is laser-focussed on her sport,” she said. “Pupils have been offered the option of staying on at Bellahouston Academy to complete their education.
“For Kayla, the diversity and integration of different cultures at Bellahouston has been of great value to her, but without the swimming, her laser focus will be gone – what would be the benefit to her?”
(Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)
She added: “We are so devastated for the coaches too, who put their heart and soul into our children.”
Kayla, who is 14 “hated” the water, explains her mum, until a sympathetic coach called Fraser at Easterhouse swimming pool helped her learn to swim.
“She then just excelled at the sport,” said Donna, proudly. “Her favourites are the 400m individual medley and the breaststroke. The breaststroke is her superpower.
“She has competed many times, and that itself means overcoming a lot of challenges as Kayla is on the autistic spectrum.
“With her diagnosis, the doctors told me she might never feel fully relaxed – that there would always be a level of anxiety.”
Donna paused. “But she tells me that in the water, she feels completely at peace,” she added. “It’s her peaceful place.”
A petition launched by parents has already topped more than 1000 signatures.
The petitioners say the young athletes would be “losing crucial training, coaching, and opportunities to achieve their sporting dreams - without even being given proper notice or a say in the decision” if the proposals go through.
They added: “We cannot stay silent. Share this post, tag fellow athletes, and demand answers. The future of Scotland’s young sports stars is at stake.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: "The current School of Sport model was introduced more than 25 years ago and was designed to meet the needs of pupils from across Scotland at the time.
"Since then, national funding for governing bodies of sport has improved the support they offer prospective athletes considerably, offering multiple pathways to elite sports competition.
"In considering whether Glasgow School of Sport offers the appropriate model in the wider national context, we have also proposed a new way to support young athletes from Glasgow to achieve their full potential.”
