Withdrawal of PE teachers done with no consultation

Dear Editor

Stirling Council’s decision to withdraw PE teachers from primary schools before the Easter break, as reported in the Observer on May 16,2018, isveryregrettablebut also curious.

We are told it is not a decision taken for financial reasons but becauseStirling Councilcannot recruit PE teachers for the secondary schools.

Yet there is not a national recruitmentcrisis. Indeedaround 130 newly-qualified teachers of PE will take up placements in schools across the country in August.

Furthermore, this problem does not exist in neighbouring councils. Additionally, both Falkirk and Clackmannan Councils have PE teachers in their primary schools. Which begs the question: why is Stirling Council struggling to recruit?

The Easter break was a curious time to implement this decision when teachers in secondary schools have less pupil contact time due to the national examinations and there is exam leave through the whole of the month of May.

In making this move, is Stirling Council prioritising education in secondary schools over education in primary schools?

Primary school is where learning and teaching focuses on the foundations in all areas of learning so that there is a secure base to build on when children move to secondary school.

Physical education in primary schools is about those fundamentals – efficient movement and physical competence so that children will have the confidence in their skills to enjoy a range of physical activities as life-long pursuits for enjoyment, and for health and well-being.

Previous education officers have advocated strongly for specialist teachers (art, music and PE) working in primary schools recognising their expertise benefits children’s learning but is also a valuable support to class teachers. In StirlingCouncil,itappearsthat the service to primary schools has been run down – for financial reasons.

From 2013-16 the Priority Based Budget process targeted PE and music teachers in primary schools asfinancialsavings. However,the PBB process allowed for public consultation on the proposed cuts. Parents and local councillors protested and these proposed cuts were unsuccessful, year on year. Curiously, this year this decision to withdraw PE teachers has been done without consultation – neither parents nor councillors were aware that this was happening.

The Scottish Government’s recommendation is that each child and young person should experience two hours of quality PE everyweek. StirlingCouncilshould reconsider this decision and should be pro-active in employing more PE teachers for the benefit of children in nursery and primary schools. After all, there is a budget.

Chris Wood Stirling