RADICAL plans by parents to set up a new state-funded primary school outside council control are being given serious consideration by ministers.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is looking at proposals drawn up by families from East Dunbartonshire after the council decided to close St Joseph's Primary School in Milngavie last year.

The group believes the only way to preserve Catholic education in the area, on the outskirts of Glasgow, is to set up a community-run school directly funded by ministers.

Under the proposal the school would be funded by the state with the ability to attract further investment from third and private sector organisations.

It would be non-selective and would seek to become a beacon school for research into initiatives such as closing the attainment gap, improving literacy and numeracy and tracking pupil performance.

It would be run by an independent board comprising key figures in the community likely to include parents and representatives from business, education, the community council and the Catholic Church.

The group has now submitted a discussion paper to Ms Sturgeon and, after meeting her twice, has been asked to submit a detailed business case for the plan.

The Scottish Government already funds several schools which are not run by local authorities including Jordanhill, in the west end of Glasgow, and a number of specialist schools such as Donaldson's School, in Linlithgow, which caters for deaf pupils.

However, the move would be highly controversial because a previous attempt to allow schools to opt-out by the Conservative Party has been seen as a politically-motivated attempt to undermine the power of councils.

Only two schools opted out in Scotland including St Mary's Episcopal Primary School, in Dunblane, which was forced to return to council control in 2001.

Paula Speirs, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said: "We are not trying to undermine the education system, but the fact the council is going to close our school and move the pupils to another area leaves us with no option other than to seek an alternative.

"We are encouraged that the Scottish Government is looking seriously at our ideas and we have had two positive meetings with the First Minister.

"What we are asking for is a pilot scheme, which would give us time to show that a community school based on co-operative principles can work."

Mrs Speirs said the campaign to keep St Joseph’s in Milngavie had already mobilised the whole community and the proposal for a self-governing community school would tap into that support.

She added: "Research has shown that one of the biggest factors in creating a successful school is to get parents and the community involved, but we believe we can go even further.

"By forming partnerships with local organisations from sports clubs to third sector organisations, we can develop an enhanced experience not only for the children in St Joseph's, but from across Milngavie."

The document to the Scottish Government, which has been developed with help from the Scottish-based Hometown Foundation, says the concept of a community partnership school was an opportunity to explore "an alternative and innovative way of delivering education" which could be replicated across other communities throughout Scotland.

It states: "We would like to be given the funding directly to deliver Catholic primary school education for children in Milngavie. We would then propose to complement that funding with various third sector monies, which will support improvement of attainment for all.... bringing in partnership nursery and out of school care services."

Because current legislation requires local authorities to "ensure provision", rather than stipulating that they are required to deliver that education, campaigners

believe a pilot could be established without the need for any legislative change.

Bill Nicol, director of the Hometown Foundation, added: "Across Scotland, there is a growing dissatisfaction with the current standard of education, its cost and the extremely variable outcomes for pupils.

"We believe there is considerable scope for new thinking around education and its cost effective delivery and we are encouraged the First Minister has taken a personal interest in this proposal for a community-led school and that senior officials have been working closely with the parent council to agree an acceptable business case."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The First Minister has asked the Minister for Learning and Skills, Dr Alasdair Allan, to continue to engage with them as they work on their proposal for the school.”