CONSULTATION will take place on whether to let boys into Scotland's last remaining state-funded single-sex school.

City chiefs backed the move to open full consultation, which will decide the future of Notre Dame High School, at a meeting today.

The school's parent council has welcomed the decision, saying it will finally give a voice to families who will be affected.

Consultation will run for six weeks and three options have been put forward by council officers.

One would see no change while another would allow the school to accept boys. A third option would retain the single-sex status but would add more local primary schools to its catchment area.

READ MORE: Future Glasgow's single-sex state school Notre Dame High to be discussed next week

Public meetings will be held during April and May to allow parents to ask questions on the options.

A council spokeswoman said: "The consultation is the ideal opportunity for all interested parties to make their views known as part of the consultation process.

"We would urge people to come along and hear about the proposals and from the various campaign groups before submitting responses by May 26."

Notre Dame High School parent council is in favour of maintaining the status quo.

READ MORE: Council to consult on Scotland's last girls-only school Notre Dame High

Michelle Watt, chairwoman of the parent council, said:  "While we welcome the consultation, we really hope that it will finally give a voice to those families who are directly affected.

"The impact of changing the status of the school goes way beyond the affluent west end. Local primary schools are already exceptionally well served by the top performing co-ed secondary schools in Glasgow, right on the doorstep.

"Notre Dame High School is almost full, with a majority of families from diverse cultures and backgrounds actively choosing to send their girls there via placing requests. Removing that choice, will remove improved opportunity for those areas of our city who do not have top schools close by.

"The school should be held up as an exemplar in our community, in the same way Jordanjill, or the Gaelic School are. Like them, it offers Glasgow families additional choice, high academic performance and helps close the attainment gap."

Notre Dame, a Catholic school founded in 1897, is the last remaining girls' school in the comprehensive system. The consultation was drawn up after families from the co-educational Notre Dame Primary called for the council to let boys into the secondary.

Four denominational learning communities in the city would be directly affected by any changes to the entry criteria at Notre Dame High - John Paul, Notre Dame, St Roch's and St Thomas Aquinas.

At the council meeting, education convener Chris Cunningham said: "We would be clear that this is not a tablet of stone. We will listen to what people say and try to understand the logic of where people are coming."

Read more of today's top Glasgow stories.