A DELAY-HIT plan to merge two primary schools has now been given the go-ahead.

Glasgow City Council consulted on a proposal to join St Stephen’s Primary and St Kevin’s Primary for children with additional support needs as one school.

Both are sited on Sighthill Campus in the North of Glasgow and have shared the same head teacher since moving to the new building in November 2019.

The city’s new education convener, Christina Cannon, welcomed the merger as the beginning of a new era for the school.

READ MORE: New Sighthill Campus is revealed

She said: “St Stephen’s Primary and St Kevin’s Primary moved to the new state of the art Sighthill Campus a few of years ago. 

"St Kevin’s Primary School meets the needs of children with additional support needs. Children from both schools have had many opportunities to learn and play together.

“The headteacher who leads both schools, has been working with parents of the schools since they moved into their new school building in November 2019 to gather views on whether it would be best for both schools to merge with the appropriate supports in place.

“This has included reassurance to St Kevin’s parents that if the proposal to merge is agreed, their child’s individual additional support needs will continue to be met in the same way as before and where beneficial, alongside their mainstream peers and with the correct specialist help."

A report previously came before committee in March but council officers had failed to meet the local authority's statutory requirements.

The paper should have been posted on the council's website for three weeks before the meeting but that was not done and so the report had to be withdrawn. 

READ MORE: Delays to plans to merge Sighthill Campus schools

But the merger was agreed today at the council’s City Administration and following engagement with pupils and families who attend both schools.

Christina added: “Both schools already adopt a very inclusive ethos with families of both schools deciding to wear the same uniform since the move to help foster and nurture a close school community learning and playing together under the one roof.

“This is a lovely story that supports Glasgow’s vision for inclusion.

“The school communities, now that the merger has been formally agreed, can  move forward as one and this includes deciding to consult on a new name for the school in the near future.”