Campaigning ex-pupil leads fight to save Gorbals special needs school

A CRUSADING former pupil of a special needs school is fronting a campaign to keep it open. Julie McElroy, of Jordanhill, hopes to stop Richmond Park School in the Gorbals being closed and the pupils moved to another school.

Council bosses have started a consultaition process to merge or relocate five Additional Support and Learning (ASL) schools including Richmond Park.

The school, which works with five to 12-year-olds with learning and physical disabilities, would be merged and housed in Kelbourne School, under the proposals.

Julie, who suffers from a hearing impairment and cerebral palsy, hopes to save the school. The 23-year-old, now studying for an IT degree, said: “Richmond Park does a great service. I place it in very high regard when it comes to getting me to where I am today.”

And Julie is no stranger to taking on a mission.

She was shortlisted for the Sunday Mail’s Young Scot of the Year Award in 2008 and has conquered many challenges, including crossing the Andes in Peru last year for the BBC show, Beyond Boundaries.

The consultation period began on Tuesday and will end on Wednesday, November 11.

Details on the proposals have been put on Glasgow City council’s website: www.glasgow.gov.uk and public meetings will be scheduled from October 5.

Councillor Jonathan Findlay, Executive Member for Education, said: “A cross-party monitoring group of senior councillors has been formed to oversee the consultation process and, if the proposals are agreed, any transitional arrangements.

“The group met for the first time on Tuesday and will receive input from education and social work services, as well as the NHS.

“I would urge interested parties to attend the public meetings and take part in the consultation process.”