Plans which could see village schools across Argyll and Bute lose their headteachers have started the first phase of consultation.
In June the authority decided to ‘pause’ plans to form primary schools in Kintyre, Cowal and on Bute into ‘clusters’ under a single executive headteacher, with deputy heads and principal teachers, while all staff would be part of the cluster rather than attached to an individual school.
Councillors said their inboxes were ‘full to the brim’ with emails from worried residents, and officials were told to delay the plans so that teachers and communities could be consulted.
And now the council has announced consultation on ‘proposals for enhanced school leadership’ across the whole region, sparking concerns in Kilcreggan, where a new headteacher was appointed in the summer on a temporary contract.
Catriona Bray, who has two daughters at Kilcreggan primary, said: “My concern is that this is not only an issue which affects this primary, but it will affect the whole of education for my children.
“It could have an impact on nursery and secondary education as well as primary.
“I’m worried that children will just become numbers, rather than the pupils of a headteacher who is in that school all the time and gets to known them well.
“How will a headteacher’s role in pastoral care be covered in this system?
“It has massive ramifications for children, parents and staff at all the schools in the area.”
And another concerned parent contacted this website, saying: “I’m not in favour of the proposed consultation to make Kilcreggan Primary part of the cluster schools, using one principal teacher for many schools.
“All children need stability at school as well as at home.
“Taking a head teacher, or even an acting headteacher, away from a close-knit primary is taking stability away from them too.
“Whatever will be next? Totally unacceptable!”
A statement issued by the council on Friday did not use the word ‘cluster’, but included a schedule of ‘open and accessible’ consultation which was due to start last month and run until May next year.
Dedicated social media channels planned are planned, while communities will have their say via ‘self-led group engagement’ with ‘toolkits’ being provided.
The statement added: “This thorough, open and accessible consultation process will be central to shaping the education transformation programme proposals before they are presented to the community services committee.
“The education transformation board will develop proposals on school leadership transformation informed by this consultation process, listening to all stakeholders from parents, pupils and communities to education professionals, trade unions and policymakers across the whole of Argyll and Bute.”
The plans which were put to councillors in June, showed groups of up to six schools sharing an executive head, as well as management and support teams.
A report noted that ‘the executive head and the senior leadership posts within a cluster will be challenging roles’, adding: “Staff would become part of a cluster and not part of a school and could therefore be moved accordingly either on a temporary basis to provide cover or on a longer-term basis to support a specific development need in one of the schools.”
Kintyre, Bute and Cowal are described as ‘early adopters’ with a phased approach taken across Argyll and Bute.
The council’s policy lead for education Yvonne McNeilly said: “The best outcomes for our young people are at the heart of all our work. We are a council that listens to our communities and this proactive engagement programme will be at the core of our decision-making.
“We very much welcome the views and ideas of our communities and look forward to seeing what their vision is for the future of education services in Argyll and Bute.
“To provide the very best for our children and young people we must take positive action to deliver a sustainable education service.
“This expanded engagement programme is one such positive action.”
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