The Primary School Estate Consultation process started with a questionnaire to selected households followed by workshops. A company IBP was commissioned to carry out these initial consultations. The questionnaire was sent to randomly selected households and contained questions about expectations for education in East Dunbartonshire in a broad sense (IBP Survey). There were two workshops for each area of East Dunbartonshire - one for professionals (teachers, support staff etc) and one for other stakeholders (Parent Council Chairs, representatives of the local communities etc). In these workshops, participants were asked to make suggestions for the school estate and 'think outside the box'. There was no financial or practical analysis (EDC Primary School Estate Workshop Summary).

From this the Council published a table of options of which there were over a hundred for the whole of East Dunbartonshire and at least 15 for the Milngavie area alone (Milngavie Area Proposals and Bearsden Area Options). 

The impression was given that the questionnaire would contain various different options for each area for the public to consider.

Within a couple of weeks, this list of suggestions was drastically reduced to the options that are now to be contained in the questionnaire issued in January.  There was no opportunity for those affected by the proposed changes to discuss the questionnaire and give opinions before its release. Reasons have been given for  the options rejected as being 'non-viable' but no quantified financial analysis has been published (Agenda for the Council Meeting December 10th).    

Agenda for Council Meeting December 10th
IBP Report
EDC Primary School Estate Workshop Summary
Milngavie Area Proposals
Bearsden Area Option