Shocked and alarmed by school league table article

I was alarmed and saddened by the headline ‘Failing’ school is ‘betraying’ pupils and the community’ in last week’s Courier.

Coming from a retired Campbeltown Grammar School (CGS) teacher, it is hard to believe that someone who has worked in the profession could have such criticism for his/ her fellow colleagues.

Although clearly passionate about the future of CGS, perhaps retirement has helped this individual forget what a challenging job all school staff face. It is commonly known CGS has not had its troubles to seek in recent years with major staff shortages due to ill health and other unforeseen circumstances. The league tables do not make good reading but, on their own, I don’t think they reflect the efforts of the staff. It is a well known fact you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

Is the behaviour of pupils the greatest barrier to success?

Despite the efforts of teachers to discipline the pupils, there are few deterrents for the offenders, especially where the pupil is aware that, if they ask, the parent will fight their corner instead of backing the school.

The responsibility of teaching our children to behave and respect others needs to be instilled from early years by us all and not just when the child reaches CGS. Maybe the retired teacher should offer his/her skills and visit CGS and see the problems all staff are facing?

It is time for the community to pull together and support our school and encourage our children to believe that a good education is very achievable in CGS.

Happy parent of CGS pupils.

Scotland’s lifeline ferry network is operating outwith its working life expectancy’, with 16 vessels out of 31 in operation over 25 years old.

Despite the huge challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic that our hard-working ferry crews have to deal with, residents rightly expect a high quality ferry service that runs on time and has enough space to ensure they can travel to and from the islands, businesses can transport goods to the mainland and tourists can visit our islands to boost the economy.

Unfortunately, cancellations and delays continue to plague routes.

I have been working closely with residents, community councils and other parties to find long-term solutions.

This pressing matter simply can’t be left on the backburner.

Councillor Alastair Redman, Kintyre and

the Islands.