PARENTS are demanding a consultation in to the future of Scotland’s last state-funded single sex school.

The move comes after opposition councillors backed the campaign to change the status of Notre Dame High school, in Glasgow, which is currently a girls’ school.

Councillors from the Labour, Conservative and Green parties all now believe a consultation is the right way forward.

But Glasgow City Council has repeated its message that a wider consultation on school catchment areas should take place first.

The Evening Times told in November last year how parents were pushing for a consultation about making the secondary mixed sex.

But the council had said any plans for the future of the school would be put on hold until after a city-wide catchment area review.

Now parents from the campaign group Notre Dame High for All campaign (NDH4All) have gathered cross-party support for a consultation.

Niamh Breakey, mum of three boys at Notre Dame Primary School in Partick, said: “The current situation is blatantly unfair as our children are the only primary school pupils in Scotland that do not have the right to transition to their local secondary with their siblings and friends.

“Notre Dame High is a local secondary school, but it is excluding and failing local children with this antiquated policy.”

Parents want the idea of opening up the school to boys to be looked at alongside the catchment area review.

Councillor Tanya Wisely has thrown her support behind the campaign.

She said: “The Green Councillor Group is fully supportive of the NDH4All Parents Group’s call for a consultation on gender segregation at Notre Dame High, the only single-sex state school in Scotland.

"The NDH4All group have thoroughly and comprehensively researched and argued the case for a consultation, including addressing the requirement to demonstrate educational benefit.

"They have themselves consulted widely among relevant stakeholders, gathering extensive support and proceeding in a non-partisan and constructive manner.

"It is imperative that this consultation is carried out within this academic year and we are working to ensure that this is the case."

Councillor Martin Rhodes, of Labour, added: “Glasgow Labour Group takes this issue very seriously.

"I understand that this is an issue which could affect thousands of people across our city, and that there is a diversity of opinion amongst parents and carers.

"As such, we are of the view that any decision should be informed by as wide a range of input as possible.”

Opposing group Girls for Notre Dame said it hopes to preserve single-sex education at the high school and is preparing for a campaign against any changes.

A council spokeswoman said: “Our secondary school catchment consultation will result in a consistent system being adopted across Glasgow and has to be concluded before we can consider a consultation on the future of Notre Dame High School.

“Education officers continue to liaise with the various parent groups who have a range of opinions.

“We would urge all interested parties to make their views known as part of the secondary catchment exercise in order that they shape any future potential changes.”

There are still single sex private schools in Scotland, but Notre Dame is the only single sex comprehensive.