The school took pupils from a number of areas designated by Strathclyde Region as being a priority in terms of social deprivation.

It was quoted in 1991 that almost 50 per cent of pupils were entitled to free school meals.

[2][3] The dispute surrounding the closure and the use of the opt-out legislation went to the House of Lords, where it was ruled that Strathclyde region had acted unlawfully when the councillors voted to close St. Gerards after a ballot for the opt-out had been called.

The campaign by the joint action group was successful in keeping the school open for at least a few more years.

This proposal was publicly criticised by Cardinal Thomas Winning as sacrificing the needs of the children in the Catholic community for the sake of short-term financial gain.