I have specifically campaigned in the Glasgow Herald for the class number to be reduced to 18 as the upper limit of 25 is having the unfortunate side effect in Scotland that a number of Siblings are being refused placing requests.
As a result of the lengthy appeal process, Schools across Glasgow cannot specify their numbers for P1 as parents hang on for their appeals. We are forced by Glasgow City Council to wait for the appeal board meeting for sibling placing requests until mid June as the upper class limit is 25 and so the council must extra another members of staff to accomodate these siblings. The board then make parents wait a further 14 days after the appeal to deliver a result, leaving families in limbo and P1 pupils unprepared for the school they are allowed into.
Meanwhile local MSP James Dornan has advised us to wait for the appeal although Margaret McDougal MSP has written to Maureen McKenna (Director of Education)in support of my specific case. I have now asked her to ask a question in the Scottish Parliamnet about class sizes being reduced and siblings being allowed entry via placing requests into P1.
I have approached the Director of Education Maureen McKenna to ask where my daughter is on the waiting list however the reply is that I must wait for the appeal and I have been given no insight into my chances of getting my daughter into school.
I have been to visit Sadie Docherty the Lord Provost of Glasgow at her surgery and she has too advised me that I must wait for the appeal although she is writing to the Board in support of my appeal.
I have a twitter account "sibling rights" and I have tweeted Michael Russell, who advised me to wait for the appeal, Glasgow City Council and Lord Jack McConnell (who did not reply).