Parents' anger over village school cutback
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 11 May 2012 08:25
4 Comments
PARENTS in Culross have responded angrily to the news that the village primary school is set to lose a teacher and its three composite classes will be cut to just two.
There are fears that the decision could put the school's long-term future in jeopardy and discourage people from moving into the village.
Roy McCormack, a member of the school's parents council, said, "It's fair to say there was a bad reaction to what we were told by the council last week.
"We're talking about losing a full-time teacher, leaving just two classes.
"They would be classes of 25 and 24 so that's at the maximum. We've five houses in the village up for sale just now and if a new family comes in there what's the policy?
"Does it mean that their children can't go to the school because we're at the maximum and we've only got two teachers? It's ridiculous.
"We've done a survey looking ahead four or five years and the truth is we've got a really strong mothers and toddlers group in Culross and it would have an impact on these kids as well.
"At our next meeting on Monday these things will be discussed and hopefully we'll have the four councillors for the West Fife villages along and we can get the ball moving," added Mr McCormack, who was previously chair of Culross Community Council for 23 years.
"The extra-curriculum would also be affected at the school. There would be nobody to take the football and all the other things that the kids are involved with. It would affect their education.
"At the moment it's in the top schools in the West of Fife albeit it's a small school.
"With just two classes and the wide range of ages it would be nigh impossible to work it right. The kids' education would definitely suffer.
"The main issue for us is to keep the third teacher. It's really upsetting because it's a first-class school with good teachers."
MP Thomas Docherty said, "Why this news was broken to the parents council two days before the election is anyone's guess but I believe the SNP are trying to close schools by the back door."
Shelagh McLean, Fife Council education directorate resources manager, said, "Every year the teacher staffing provision for each school in Fife is considered in line with budget provision and school rolls.
"The headteacher and the local authority work closely together to make these decisions for the coming year.
"In line with our standard policies and procedures the headteacher at Culross Primary School has looked at her prospective roll for the 2012/13 school year and advised parents that there is a possibility that the school may only require two composite classes.
"No final decisions on class numbers will be made until the start of the school year, taking into account any additional children who may move into the catchment area.
"If other children were to move into the catchment area during the school year then we would look to see how they could be accommodated within the school.
"Any decisions we take are always made by looking at the impact they will have on a child's schooling and are made in discussion with the parents."
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Blackadder
259 posts
May 11, 10:57
Report comment"In line with our standard policies and procedures the headteacher at Culross Primary School has looked at her prospective roll for the 2012/13 school year and advised parents that there is a possibility that the school may only require two composite classes"
And when, Shelagh McLean, was this done, bearing in mind Fife Council saw fit to leave the school without a headteacher from January to mid April? Said headteacher was absent from school through illness and didn't return to Culross primary school. Upon her return to fitness she took up a new post at another school without uttering a word of this cut to parents at Culross.
And here's another lie, "Any decisions we take are always made by looking at the impact they will have on a child's schooling and are made in discussion with the parents." Can you detail when this discussion was undertaken and by whom? And where are the results of looking at the impact on a child's schooling of introducing 3 and 4 year composite classes filled to capacity?
I suggest you get your facts straight and stop lying.
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******
May 11, 11:42
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May 11, 12:26
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May 11, 13:57
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May 11, 14:33
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sammytammy1
4 posts
May 11, 20:55
Report commentwhy is there never any quotes fronm the Director of the Service? Surely she or he must decide how things are provided? They are a public servant
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May 11, 23:00
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May 12, 10:27
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May 12, 11:33
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Leishman
17 posts
May 12, 22:02
Report commentHow many kids does Roy McCormack have the school ?
Can we keep teacher numbers based on how many children were at the school five years ago or if the school roll falls should the number of teachers also fall on a proportionate basis ? Similarly if a roll goes up, shouldn't that school get more teachers ?
Luckily for Culross the SNP Scottish Gov still has in place a moratorium of the closure of small schools. Mr Docherty really should be better informed.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 7
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May 13, 13:48
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thefifer
6 posts
Aug 23, 00:21
Report commentIt was mr McCormack who has objected to two major housing developments in Culross and he must take responsibility for the state of the village school.
It's wrong and totally unfair to blam others because of your own deeds!
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