Glentrool Primary was threatened with closure some time ago. “Once the school has gone you’ve lost the backbone of the community,” says Robert Crang, chairman of the local school board.
It is hard to find any parents in Glentrool who believe their children would benefit from a larger school. Mr Crang says: “Mixing with children of all ages is an advantage. My youngest who’s almost six has learned a lot from being in a class with older kids. I used to work with children and the ones I saw in big classes weren’t getting what mine were at Glentrool.”
Jack Trainer, whose son has been at Glentrool since he started school, says: “Now he’s one of the oldest, I think he helps the younger ones. I don’t think he’ll find the move to a bigger school difficult. The children at all the primary schools in the area mix on a regular basis. The ones who’ll be starting secondary at the same time get to know each other.”
