The schools – whose building conditions rated poorest on a four-grade system – are: Gartocharn, Jamestown, Ladyton, Levenvale, Renton, St Kessog’s, St Martin’s, St Ronan’s, Highdykes, Haldane and Braehead. According to the school rolls — accounts for 1,430 pupils in total.

It also includes three schools in neighbouring Clydebank.

Members of West Dunbartonshire Council met tonight (Wednesday) to discuss the proposals.

Speaking at the authority's Garshake Road HQ, Terry Lanagan, executive director of education, said he hopes to bring forward a more detailed report in relation to at least one of the schools in September.

This will be presented to members of the Education Committee.

Dumbarton councillor George Black, who was first elected on the back of a campaign to save Milton Primary school, stressed that the council needed to be upfront with parents over potential closures and mergers.

As revealed by the Reporter, the council has decided to move forward with regenerating the primary schools estate as money has become available from the Our Lady and St Patrick’s project.

An offer has been made from the Scottish Government to cover 100 per cent of the cost of the new OLSP, if the council uses the funds on other schools in the area.

The shake-up is being proposed because, according to Mr Lanagan, the executive director of education, there are far too many primary schools across Dumbarton, the Vale and Clydebank corresponding to the population.

According to the report, there are ‘significant recruitment challenges’ in terms of finding head teachers, which a reduction in schools would also help alleviate.

One of the ideas on the table is also to incorporate nurseries into any new school buildings — there are currently 21 stand-alone facilities in the area which the report states is ‘not sustainable in the long term’.