A petition has been set up urging Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life not to vote through proposals to close the Glasgow School of Sport.
As first reported by The Herald this week, Scotland's only elite sports school, based at Bellahouston Academy, is to be shut down in June 2026 and replaced with a bursary scheme under proposals to be voted on by the council this week.
Parents and pupils have said they were not involved in the consultation process for the report which has gone before councillors, while alumnus and Olympic medallist Michael Jamieson said it was "not a good look" ahead of Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth games just weeks after the proposed closure date.
A petition to save the school has attracted close to 500 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Read More:
The petitioners write: "Glasgow School of Sport, a vital institution for young athletes, is set to close due to a lack of funding. Shockingly, pupils and parents were NOT informed directly. The only message received on Friday vaguely mentioned changes, but the truth was only discovered through an online report.
"This means young athletes are losing crucial training, coaching, and opportunities to achieve their sporting dreams—without even being given proper notice or a say in the decision.
"We cannot stay silent. Share this post, tag fellow athletes, and demand answers. The future of Scotland’s young sports stars is at stake.
"Glasgow City Council please review your support for sports especially looking to close only Scotland's only sports school the year of the Commonwealth games."
The parent of a pupil on a swimming scholarship at the school says it has transformed her son's life.
She told The Herald: "My shy 12-year-old has flourished into a confident, focused young man who strives for excellence. He feels safe at the School of Sport to ask questions when he needs clarification and it is an environment where he has flourished.
Bellahouston Academy (Image: PR) "The programme at the school of sport allows every athlete to reach their potential. The staff are willing to assist wherever they can and will go above and beyond for every athlete.
"We as a family cannot imagine a life without GSOS. My son is on his Nat 5 journey having picked subjects and now will be at a disadvantage by having to add subjects later on to his programme.
"It will also be a much more challenging journey swimming-wise as our schedules will all have to change as well.
"I think the council are just looking at it from a pounds and pence perspective and have not thought about the fact this impacts children and their futures. Would this disruption be what you would want for your child?"
Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life said they had no further comment ahead of the council meeting on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said when first approached by The Herald: “The current School of Sport model was introduced more than 25 years ago and was designed to meet the needs of pupils from across Scotland at the time.
"Since then, national funding for governing bodies of sport has improved the support they offer prospective athletes considerably, offering multiple pathways to elite sports competition.
"In considering whether Glasgow School of Sport offers the appropriate model in the wider national context, we have also proposed a new way to support young athletes from Glasgow to achieve their full potential.”
The petition to save save the School of Sport is available here.
