Renfrewshire Council to move adult English classes away from primary school after backlash

Renfrewshire Council is to stop offering adult English language classes in a primary school building after backlash from locals.

The community learning centre, on Brown Street South in Renfrew, shares a campus with St James’ Primary School and is currently used by community groups for classes during school hours.

Concerns have been raised among locals after a video shared online showed a group of adult men outside during the school day.

In response, the local authority has now paused the group and those similar to avoid “any further disruption to the school”.

The council stated that all classes are supported by council staff, and those taking part are accompanied by community learning staff.

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In a statement shared on Thursday evening, a council spokesperson said: “The school building is home to a community learning facility, which is used by a wide range of different community groups for classes, during school hours. This is common practice in many schools.

“Access to the community learning facility is securely managed by staff from the community learning centre. The school and nursery themselves are behind secure-entry doors which are manged by school staff.

“One of the groups which use the community learning facility is a group who receive English language classes. They are supported by council staff and facilitated while on the premises by community learning staff.

“To avoid any further disruption to the school, this group and similar groups’ use of the community learning facility is being paused and alternative locations will be found.

“We have written to parents and carers at the school to offer reassurance over how access to the building is managed.”