Opt-out school's last stand

St Mary's has proved popular with parents

Parents and supporters of Scotland's only grant-maintained school have protested against the bill which will end the school's self-governing status.

A delegation from St Mary's Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane lobbied MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament.

The Standards in Scotland's Schools Bill, which reached its final parliamentary stage on Wednesday, will force the school to return to local authority control.

Campaigners say that both the pupils and the school are better off under independence.

They were joined in their protest by Tory education spokesman Brian Monteith MSP.

Pupils want the school to remain as it is

It was the previous Conservative UK government which allowed schools to opt out of local authority control and receive their funding directly from central government.

This was popular in England but a flop in Scotland.

One, Dornoch Academy in Sutherland, has since returned to council control.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said ministers acknowledged the concerns but did not see why the school could not flourish under local authority management.

School board member, Giles Dove, said: "Since opting out of local authority control, St Mary's has prospered, enjoying superb facilities and first class academic results.

Euro plea

"The school is at capacity and demand for places is so high that there is always a waiting list of pupils wanting to enter.

"The parents of St Mary's come from all political persuasions, and our primary interest is in the education and wellbeing of our children.

"We have become, however, the object of dogmatic political thinking.

"All MSPs who have visited the school have stated that they are extremely impressed, but when it comes to the education bill they are hiding behind their party's official line."

Mr Dove, who has two children at St Mary's, added: "It's not to late for politicians in the new Scotland to prove their worth by taking a stand in support of the excellence that St Mary's represents."

A petition has also been sent to the European Parliament, asserting that the enforced change is unfair and a breach of rights at EU citizens.