Fourteen-year-old Olivia Fisher – the fastest Scots girl in her age group – is facing uncertainty over plans to shut prestigious Glasgow School of Sport.
One of Scotland’s fastest girls says the dreams of future sports stars are hanging in the balance amid the threatened closure of the country’s only specialist school.
Fourteen-year-old Olivia Fisher – who idolises sprinters like Usain Bolt – is the fastest in her age group and on course to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games next year.
But the youngster, from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, said her future is in doubt over proposals to shut down Glasgow School of Sport – which has produced medal-winning alumni, including badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour and swimmer Michael Jamieson.
Opposition MPs said Glasgow City Council, which runs the Bellahouston Academy-based school alongside Glasgow Life, must “pull out all the stops” to keep it open and “nurture the next generation of talent” as the city gears up for the Commonwealth Games.
Dedicated Olivia – who takes two trains every morning to get to the school – told the Record: “This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was little. It’s a massive goal of mine.
“The school closing would really set me back on that goal. I’d have to do a lot more training before and after school, which would have a negative impact on me academically.
“By the time the school closes I might have to move mid prelims.
“I had to leave all my friends from my local school to go to the sports school but it’s been worth it. The training is amazing and I’ve made so many friends.
“It’s causing a lot of anxiety for all of us.”
Glasgow School of Sport has 65 pupils from all over the country who receive specialist coaching in one area – athletics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey or swimming.
In February, pupils and parents were told that Glasgow Life intended to close the school in June next year, just weeks before the Commonwealth Games kick off in Glasgow, and to replace it with a bursary scheme – sparked fury among parents and pupils.
A freeze on new pupils had been introduced in 2024, as the city council and Glasgow Life sought funding support for the school, but a report revealed that although 62% of the school’s pupils come from outside Glasgow, both the Scottish government and local authorities indicated they were “not able to provide financial support”, along with other sporting organisations.
Under the proposals, pupils would continue to study at Bellahouston for the next two years, with “pupil athlete plans” in place.
But Glasgow Life withdrew the plans after concerns about a lack of consultation and appointed an independent consultancy firm to review the matter. Meanwhile, a petiton to save the school attracted thousands of signatures.
A scathing report released this month found 82% of parents and pupils questioned said the school’s closure would have a “very negative impact” on their sporting development.
It added that “prolonged uncertainty” around GSOS’s future had “disrupted pupils’ exams, competitions, and subject choices, leaving many unable to plan for the future” and warned of talented pupils from poorer backgrounds being excluded from elite sport.
Third year pupil Olivia went through a testing interview and application process to gain her place.
Dad Owen, 38, said: “There are some amazing athletes coming out of the school. There are ex pupils whose families have moved down from up north just to be close to the place because the potential is unbelievable.
“Since joining, Olivia is the fastest in Scotland and she was fourth at the English championships in the 200m as well. What she’s achieved so far is unreal. She’s looking to get the standards now for the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2027.
“If she sticks to what she’s doing she will be representing Scotland at that level. She’s thriving. But we’re now in a position where we don’t know where she’s going to be schooling next year, which is absolute nightmare for us. We’re in limbo right now.
“Her whole curriculum has been put on the back burner. There’s a lot she has had to sacrifice and she signed a form to say she was committing the next six years of her school life to this. She decided she wanted to chase this dream, but that’s being taken away from her.”
Mum Debbie, 38, said parents were now anxiously awaiting a date for the matter to be debated at a committee hearing.
She said: “Our main concern is Olivia and her peers getting through to sixth year.
“Scotland is such a small country but it produces such a good range of athletes across all sports. It would be such a missed opportunity not to keep that going.”
The future of gymnast Ellie Gray, 14, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, is also in doubt.
Dad Robbie, 50, said: “We were promised six years when they started and the amount of money I’ve spent taking her to this school and hours I’ve lost travelling – that’s the least they deserve.
“Next year is an important year for her exams and she could have to change schools.
“The Commonwealth Games are in Scotland next year and they want to shut down the only school for sport? I don’t understand it.”
Scottish Conservative sports spokesperson Brian Whittle MSP said: “The proposals to close this prestigious sporting academy are causing a great deal of stress for budding athletes and their parents.
“Glasgow City Council must pull out all the stops to keep this school open so we can nurture the next generation of sporting talent as the city gears up for the Commonwealth Games.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow Life was asked to consult parents and pupils to gather their views on the future of Glasgow School of Sport. Kinharvie, the independent facilitators who undertook this process, have prepared a report setting out the findings of the consultation. This has been shared with all interested parties and will now be considered by Glasgow City Council’s Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement (WECCE) Committee in terms of the proposed next steps.
“We are grateful to everyone who took the time to participate, and we remain committed to sharing information about the decision-making process.”
