THE Govan Annexe of Glasgow Gaelic School is set to become a school in its own right.

Council chiefs are asked to approve the move, and the opening of a new Gaelic school in the north east of the city, at a meeting on Thursday.

It comes after public consultation revealed huge support for the proposals.

During a process which ran from October until January, just over 200 responses were received by the city council, with almost 92 per cent in favour of the Govan Annexe becoming a school.

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Over 91 per cent were in favour of a fourth school, which is planned for the site of the former St James' Primary School.

There are currently three buildings solely used for Gaelic education in the city, the Glasgow Gaelic School on Berkeley Street, its Govan Annexe and Glendale Gaelic School in Pollokshields.

Only Glasgow Gaelic School provides secondary education.

A council report states: "With the primary provision growing, the secondary provision also needs to grow.

"In order to achieve this, there is a need to reduce the numbers of pupils in primary at the Berkeley Street campus to allow the secondary to expand.

"In addition, there was a need to improve access to physical education facilities.

"In 2019, a new games hall, using funding from the Scottish Government, was opened, greatly enhancing the physical education facilities."

A short-life working group set up by the council and made up of parents, council officers and councillors recognised more early years provision was needed in the city and that a fourth primary school should be considered.

The Govan Annexe opened in August last year, with 12 teaching spaces and two general purpose rooms. It has a multi-use hall and an outdoor multi-use games area.

"There is no further scope to extend the site at Berkeley Street to provide more teaching spaces nor is there any scope at the Glendale site," the council report adds.

"The Govan Annexe does have scope for further expansion either through the use of modular accommodation or permanent extensions.

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"However, landscaping work would be required to extend the playground into the neighbouring area which is owned by the council."

More than £2m has been provided by the Scottish Government towards building the new school. However, the report adds "should this proposal be approved, further funding will need to be sourced".

A previous report to councillors stated the cost of the new school has been estimated at £16.5m. It would have twelve teaching spaces, two general-purpose spaces, a sports hall, drama stage and rehearsal space.

Thursday's meeting is expected to be held via phone conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.