Parents in Glasgow have confirmed that they are pushing ahead with legal action against the council over cuts to teacher numbers and pupil mentoring.

The Glasgow City Parents Group (GCPG), which represents parent councils from across the area, argues that the council failed to carry out a proper assessment of the impact of the policies before implementing them – something they believe is a breach of equality laws.

The group is also critical of the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) published by the council at the beginning of August, several months after the teacher cuts programme had begun. It describes this document as inconsistent and contradictory and say that it fails to provide a “clear, consistent picture, leaving parents, educators, and advocacy groups alarmed and frustrated.”

Following a budget agreement between the SNP and Greens, Glasgow City Council is currently in the process of cutting hundreds of teaching posts from schools across the city. Members of the EIS are to be balloted over industrial action in response, with other teaching unions expected to follow suit. The GCPG has also led a series of protests, including a March for Education through Glasgow city centre.

Earlier this week, the council was condemned for the use of “calculated and deceptive” tactics in the weeks before the budget vote that confirmed the cuts. The Herald has also revealed that official documents confirm that reducing teacher numbers “may have a detrimental impact on the poorest children and young people.”

In order to help fund their legal action, which they describe as a “classic David vs Goliath story”, the GCPG has opened a crowdfunder with a target of £25,000 – almost 10% of which had already been raised after less than 24 hours.

GCPG chair, Leanne McGuire, said: “This is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet - these are our children’s lives. Every parent wants to give their child the best possible start, but these cuts take away the support that so many children in Glasgow rely on.

“We’ve heard heart-breaking stories from parents who fear for their child’s future if these cuts go ahead. Our kids deserve better, and we are committed to fighting for them every step of the way. But we can’t do it alone. We’re asking the community to stand with us to be our strength as we take on this uphill battle.

“This is not just a fight about procedure; it is a fight for every child’s right to an education that supports their growth, development, and potential.”

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Ms McGuire urged supporters to consider donating to the campaign: "Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to protecting our children’s education and ensuring that the council is held accountable for its decisions.

“This is a pivotal moment for Glasgow’s future. Together, we can demand the transparency, accountability, and fairness that our children deserve. Let’s make sure their voices are heard, and their rights are defended.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “It would not be appropriate to comment extensively on this matter at this time due to potential legal action pertaining to the EQIAs.

“What we can say is that our position is that the decisions have been taken lawfully and in compliance with the local authority’s public sector equality duty.

“An EQIA was attached to the budget proposals document in February and included an assessment of the impact of the proposed service reforms.

“The progress of the service reforms is kept under review and a further EQIA was completed in June 2024.

“It’s important to note that the purpose of an EQIA is to highlight and make decision-makers aware of potential risks thus enabling them to embed actions to mitigate or avoid those risks.

“The budget agreed by councillors in February also agreed to put in place processes to continually monitor the impact of decisions and actions taken to mitigate potential negative outcomes.”

The Glasgow City Parent Group crowdfunder can be found here.