North Lanarkshire Council has questioned the future of schools in Coatbridge, Bellshill, Wishaw and Cumbernauld.

A consultation period with families and community members closed on Friday -- but parents are determined to keep their schools open.

St Francis of Assisi in Cumbernauld is facing closure due to falling roll numbers but parents say the council is being short-sighted as 200 new homes are to be built across the road.

Mum Karen Eadie, whose daughter Morgan Robson is in P7, is leading the charge to save St Francis.

She said: “Our’s is a very strong community and this is a very close-knit school. The council says roll numbers are falling but it cannot project how many children will move into the new housing estate.

“It is not looking far enough ahead but we will not stop fighting to keep St Francis open.”

Council bosses point out that only 93 pupils attend the school, with only 64 of those living in the St Francis catchment area. The majority of the other third attend the school on placing requests.

But parents say the high number of children on placing requests shows the desirability of St Francis.

Karen added: “Everyone is dumbfounded the council would want to close such a high-performing school.

“Our pupils have some of the best results in North Lanarkshire.

“It cannot benefit our children to be in a school with a bigger role number.

“The children’s achievements now are due to the care they receive by being in a small school.”

Mum Ruth Malcolm is especially worried about her daughter Abbie, who has mild autism.

Abbie was struggling to cope at a primary school in Edinburgh but since moving to St Francis Ruth says the 10-year-old has made amazing progress.

The stay-at-home mum fears the disruption of moving to another school will prove too much for her daughter.

Ruth said: “In Edinburgh Abbie became lost in the system, but the small class sizes at St Francis mean she has had wonderful care.

“She is like a new girl. She cries when she’s sick and has to have a day off school because she loves it so much.

“Abbie is also able to go to school by herself, which proves to us she is maturing.

“This would not be possible at the new school where she’ll have further to travel.”

Murdo Maciver is North Lanarkshire Council’s head of educational resources. He said the authority is firmly in favour of children attending schools with larger rolls.

“St Francis of Assisi Primary School can accommodate 193 children,” said Mr Maciver.

“The pupils at the school would benefit educationally because they will attend larger schools which can offer a wider range of educational opportunities.

“We have a legal duty to ensure efficient and effective use of our buildings. In North Lanarkshire we have over 8,000 surplus places in our schools meaning money is spent heating, lighting and maintaining empty classrooms.

“Housing developments are included in any future pupil projections.”

Other schools affected are St Matthew’s in Wishaw, Belvidere in Bellshill and Gartsherrie in Coatbridge.

Reports show all four schools have falling rolls and council bosses say the aging buildings are a drain on resources.

But parents have come out fighting against the closure threats. Belvidere Parents Council has collected 1,100 signatures on a petition to save the school.

Last Thursday four parents and a grandmother occupied St Matthew’s overnight, while 200 others gathered outside to show their support.

If the closures go ahead, pupils will be relocated to fill empty spaces in other local primary schools.

Council chiefs are now drawing up a report. The findings will go before North Lanarkshire's leisure and learning committee and its decision will then be voted on by the full council.