Politicians have been urged to help fight teacher cuts at Kilcreggan Primary School.
Last month it was revealed here that there would be just four teachers at the village school in September – with P5, 6 and 7 pupils all in one composite class – despite steep increases in the school roll.
MSPs Jackie Baillie and Stuart McMillan have already raised the issue with Argyll and Bute Council, and now worried parents have contacted their MP, MSPs and local councillors, saying the move is regressive.
The parents say responses from the council’s head of service Anne Marie Knowles only reiterate facts and are ‘very unsatisfactory’, adding: “In May the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy revealed a drop in education standards in Scottish primary schools, consequently Nicola Sturgeon said the government would be investing in primary education.
“We fear the government are unaware how destructive this decision is for education, it is not breaking any regulations but it simply is not progressive, it is utterly regressive.”
The council argues that nationally-imposed maximum class sizes are 25 for P1, 30 for P2-3, 33 for P4-7 and 25 for composite classes.
With four teachers, in September Kilcreggan would have 23 P1/2 pupils, 22 P2/3s, 24 P4/5s and 24 P5/6/7s – very close to the maximum in every case.
Parents say this will mean there is no guarantee that families who are contemplating a move to this area – with expansion due at the Faslane naval base – can get their child into the school: “This is not only a disastrous money-saving exercise, it is very short-sighted.
“The roll at Kilcreggan Primary School has increased more than any other school in the cluster, raising by 26.5% since 2010/11.”
Council officials say if there is a further change in pupil numbers the cuts will be reviewed: Education Services will “consider whether it is necessary to alter the current staffing levels”.
But residents fear this decision, together with potential recruitment, could be a slow process: “By cutting a teacher at Kilcreggan you not only increase the pupil to teacher ratio, which arguably reduces the standard of education, but you remove the immediate room for growth as most of the classes will be operating at maximum capacity.”
The council maintains: “Argyll and Bute Council remains committed to maintaining overall teacher numbers, as agreed nationally as part of the local government financial settlement and in compliance with the council decision in relation to teacher numbers and will use its staffing resources as efficiently as possible to deliver the highest quality of education.”
A report last month showed an increase in teacher absenteeism through stress at the council – the average number of days lost per full-time teacher rose from 6.7 in 2012013 to 8.2 last year, with stress being the most common reason.
The politicians who have been asked to lend their support this week are: Brendan O’Hara MP; MSPs Neil Bibby, Jackie Baillie, Jackson Carlaw, Mary Fee, Annabel Goldie, Stewart Maxwell, Margaret McDougall, Stuart McMillan and councillors George Freeman, Maurice Corry and Robert MacIntyre.
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