The full extent of teacher cuts at schools in Helensburgh and Lomond has been revealed after a Freedom of Information request by MSP Jackie Baillie.
Figures provided by Argyll and Bute Council show that schools in the area will lose the equivalent of almost five full-time teachers after the summer holidays.
Primary schools in Kilcreggan, Rosneath and Garelochhead will lose at least one full-time teacher each alongside St Joseph’s Primary in Helensburgh.
Cardross and John Logie Baird primaries will each gain the equivalent of a third of a full-time post and there will be no changes at Arrochar, Colgrain, Hermitage and Rhu Primaries.
At Luss Primary there will be a decrease equivalent to 25% of a full-time post.
Jackie Baillie requested the figures after parents raised concerns about proposals to cut the number of teachers from five to four at Kilcreggan Primary, as first revealed here.
The news broke only a few months after the Scottish Government announced that it had reached an agreement with every local authority in Scotland to maintain teacher numbers.
Jackie has arranged a meeting with Education Secretary, Angela Constance, and will invite a delegation of local parents concerned about the increase in the number of composite classes involving three different year groups and the potential impact on the quality of education.
Jackie said: “These figures show that Helensburgh and Lomond will lose the equivalent of almost five full-time teachers when children return to school after the summer holidays.
‘The cuts will disproportionately affect smaller schools where there are already fewer teachers.
“Local families are very concerned about the potential impact on their children’s education. It is difficult to understand the logic behind cutting teacher numbers in schools where the number of pupils will actually increase next year.
“Argyll and Bute Council has said that it will maintain teacher numbers across the region. That can only mean that teacher numbers will go up in other areas while they are decreasing in Helensburgh and Lomond. I will make no apologies for putting local families first and opposing these cuts.
“If the Scottish Government is serious about protecting teacher numbers then it must work with Argyll and Bute Council to stop teacher cuts at schools across Helensburgh and Lomond.
“The current policy clearly isn’t working and I’m pleased that the Education Secretary Angela Constance has agreed to meet with me to discuss ways to keep teachers in our local schools.”
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