EDUCATION bosses have confirmed they WILL consult on whether to open Scotland's last remaining girls' school to boys.

Parents have been campaigning for Glasgow City Council to launch a consultation into the future of Notre Dame High School.

But unhappy parents are being asked to have patience as there will be a delay in the consultation going ahead.

This week one group, Notre Dame High 4 All (NDH4All), handed in a 1400-signature petition to the council.

An opposing group, Girls for Notre Dame, hopes to preserve the single sex status of the school.

Read more: Parents demand girls' school consultation

The council had said it would wait until a catchment area review consultation is completed and then consider seeking views on Notre Dame.

But now Chris Cunningham, convenor for education, skills and early years, has confirmed a consultation will go ahead.

However, parents are asked to "draw breath" and wait.

He spoke in response to a question from Labour councillor Martin Rhodes, who asked if he would "re-consider the Council’s rejection in July of a consultation request by parents on the admissions policy of Notre Dame High?”

Mr Cunningham responded: "We have taken the view that a consultation on Notre Dame, now and in isolation, would not be appropriate.

"Our intention is that all secondary catchment areas should be delineated, that is they should be based on a clearly defined geographic area.

"This will provide clarity for all parents across the city. We believe therefore that the wider catchment area consultation must come first.

"However the question of the school’s status is a matter that cannot be wished away and having now heard from ‘both sides’ it is difficult to see how it can be resolved without asking for the views of all those involved, in other words, by carrying out a consultation.

"I can therefore confirm that it is our intention, following the city wide reviews, to consider the issues raised by those campaigning for change at Notre Dame via a consultation.

"I should be clear that this will not be a decision for the administration on its own.

"It will require the agreement of the City Administration Committee made up of all parties represented on the council.

"I should also be clear that this is not a straightforward issue to address and that there is still a lot of work to be done.

"In concluding, I would ask all parents, campaigning for both the status quo and for change, to draw breath, and to recognise that if we are to reach a satisfactory outcome we need to do so in an orderly way.

"I acknowledge the sense of urgency amongst some parents, but the position of Notre Dame has not sprung out of nowhere.

"Its single sex status has been in place for decades. The consultation will be an opportunity for all to engage and express their views.

"This administration has been in office for less than a year and we find ourselves being asked to address issues that have been decades in the making and decades left unresolved. It is a challenge we are happy to meet."

Read more: Parents prepare for battle over Notre Dame

NDH4All spokeswoman Niamh Breakey, mum of three boys at Notre Dame Primary School in Partick, said: "Contrary to the council statement on this issue, there is no requirement to conduct their wider consultation first, that is a choice that the administration have made, and is clearly nonsensical.

"Any change to the status of Notre Dame High would require a reconsideration of catchment areas and should be included alongside the current proposals so everyone can have their say."