Support GCPG's Legal Challenge Against Education Budget Cuts

Support Glasgow City Parents Group's Legal Challenge Against Education Budget Cuts

In February 2024, Glasgow City Council (GCC) passed a three-year budget that has a drastic impact on our city schools. These cuts, which include the removal of 450 teaching positions and a critical review of the MCR Pathways transformational mentoring service, jeopardise the quality of education for thousands of children and young people across Glasgow.

Why We’re Taking Legal Action

Glasgow City Parents Group (GCPG) is a grassroots coalition of Parent Councils committed to protecting the educational future of Glasgow’s children. When these devastating cuts were announced, we couldn’t stand by and watch as our children’s education was jeopardised. Despite raising our protests and calls to action over the past six months, GCC has ignored our concerns and proceeded with its plans.

In June 2024, it was confirmed that GCC failed to fulfil their legal obligation to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) before making these drastic decisions. This blatant disregard for due process has left us with no choice but to pursue legal action. We have instructed our legal representatives to initiate judicial review proceedings to hold GCC accountable and ensure a transparent assessment of the impact these cuts will have on our children, especially the most vulnerable.

Our Goal

Our primary goal is to secure a judicial review that challenges the fairness and legality of GCC's decisions. While a judicial review will not result in the Court ordering the Council to reinstate the posts which have been cut, it can lead to a finding that the Council’s decisions were unlawful, forcing the Council to revisit and remake these decisions with proper consideration of their impact. This could lead to a different outcome.

To GCC, these cuts are just numbers on a spreadsheet, with little regard for the real impact on the educational opportunities and support systems that our children depend on. This has been evident in recently shared email threads obtained through Freedom of Information requests.

Why We Desperately Need Your Help

GCPG is a completely voluntary group of dedicated Parent Council members, who give up their free time to work on the group while juggling their own work and family commitments. We are not a large, well-funded organisation; we are simply parents and carers who have come together to fight for what’s right for Glasgow's children. Our group operates without dedicated funding, relying solely on minimal support from Glasgow Education Services, which only covers basic expenses for virtual meetings, as per the Parental Involvement Act 2006.

The reality is that we are facing an uphill battle - a bit of a David versus Goliath story. Our estimated legal costs are £25,000, covering solicitor's fees, petition drafting, motions, and court fees. These are expenses we simply cannot cover on our own. We will seek to keep costs to a minimum, and our legal team are helping with this. Every penny we raise will go directly towards these legal expenses. How far we get with this legal case depends entirely on how much we are able to raise. Should we exceed our target, any remaining funds will be donated to a local charity or social enterprise that works with school pupils.

We know this is a huge ask, but if we, as parents and carers, do not stand against local authorities failing to meet their public duties these questionable practices will continue. Please donate as little or as much as you can afford - every £1 makes a difference. Without help from people like you, we won’t be able to challenge these unjust cuts and protect the future of Glasgow’s children. Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us closer to our goal and send a clear message to Glasgow City Council: They cannot make decisions that harm our children without accountability.

Join Us in the Fight

We know that times are tough, and many families face financial challenges. But this fight is about more than just our children’s education - it’s about standing up for fairness, justice, and our community. By supporting us, you’re not just funding a legal challenge; you’re joining a movement to ensure that every child in Glasgow has the opportunity to flourish.

So far, we have forced GCC to publish the paperwork that should have been completed before any of these decisions were implemented. Although it appears they have shaped this paperwork to fit the decisions they’ve already enacted.

Please donate whatever you can to help us take this fight to court and safeguard the educational rights of our children.

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can #LetOurKidsFlourish.

About GCPG

Glasgow City Parents Group (GCPG) represents Parent Councils across the city, providing a strong voice in education policy discussions at the city level. We also support all Glasgow parents and carers throughout their child’s educational journey, from early years to S6. Our group works in partnership Glasgow Education Services and other key organisations, including Police Scotland and the NHS, making us a vital link between parents and decision-makers. With a core committee of 12 dedicated volunteers, we strive to represent the views of parents, and carers, across all educational sectors and ensure all Glasgow pupils receive a quality education.

GCPG remains committed to ensuring that the voices of parents and guardians across Glasgow are heard and that the educational needs of all children in the city are protected.

"We understand that as members of GCPG, we are in a privileged position and are already actively engaged in our children’s education. We don’t challenge this decision for our own children; we challenge this decision for all of Glasgow’s children. For the families who are unable to challenge and feel they must accept any poor decision that is imposed on them."

Thank you for standing with us in this crucial battle for our children’s education.

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