Crowded primary to have dance and drama classes in the school car park

A report by the council said the plan had been criticised by parents, but was being considered because other alternatives were proving equally unpopular.

Officials had previously proposed closing a nursery attached to the school to create more classroom space and also suggested sending pupils in the final year of primary to nearby Hillhead Secondary School.

However, the council is now recommending that neither of these options is taken forward and that a new general purposes classroom should be built in the car park.

The recommendations also include making the Hillhead catchment area smaller and capping rolls next year - although that will mean some children who currently live in the catchment area will not be able to secure a place at the school next summer.

The council report states: "Council officers had discussed a proposal.... in relation to creating additional space by using an area of the underground car park at Hillhead.

"Concerns.... were raised over the lack of natural light, proximity to vehicular traffic and that children would have to leave the main school building.... to gain access to the underground car park.

"However, officers have reviewed this option in light of the strong opposition to both the closure of Kelvin Park Early Years Centre and the potential use of

space within Hillhead High School."

The report says the car park option is now "viewed as viable" adding: "If approved the design team would be tasked with providing the most suitable artificial lighting, separating pedestrian and vehicular access and putting in place protocols for movement between the main school building and the learning area within the current car park."

Sarah Lowndes, a spokeswoman for the Space For Hillhead campaign, attacked the latest proposals.

She said: "Effectively the council has decided to prioritise the 79 places provided by their flagship nursery over the needs of the 682 children enrolled in the school."

"If the council proceeds with this new proposal they will be failing a whole generation of primary school pupils, who, unlike the children from the early years centre, will be stuck in an overcrowded school for seven years."

However, Kate Cotter, from the Keep Kelvin Early Years campaign, welcomed the recommendations.

She said: "We do understand there are capacity issues at the school, but are pleased to see that these are being addressed without recourse to the nuclear option of closing the centre.

"This has been a very intense period for parents on all sides of the debate and we hope that all parents can now turn their attention to continuing to support both school and nursery in providing a first class education."

A letter to parents from Maureen McKenna, the council's director of education, said: "These recommendations are founded on the desire to address the issue of flexible-space within Hillhead Primary School whilst ensuring that all children and young people in all the schools and the Early Years Centre have the best possible learning opportunities and facilities."

A council spokeswoman added: "We have listened to all interested parties during the consultation. The original proposals and plans have been adapted to reflect the diverse and varying views."

Under the wider council proposals, catchment area changes would affect Oakgrove, Anderston, Garnetbank, Hyndland and Thornwood Primary Schools.

Hillhead, in Otago Street, was opened three years ago following a merger with other primary schools and was designed for 632 pupils.

It currently has around 680 pupils and the school's dedicated art room and music room have already become classrooms, as has its library.

The consultation document will go before councillors in January with a final decision taken by the council's executive committee.