Schools’ shared head teacher move to be made permanent

kirriemuir: Role at Webster’s and Southmuir will be filled by one person

Two Angus schools will continue to share a head teacher on a permanent basis, despite staff and parents voicing concerns.

Councillors on the children and learning committee confirmed the shared headship as a permanent appointment after the results of a formal consultation were disclosed.

The committee was told focus groups responded positively, but this contrasted with the parent questionnaire in which 60% did not favour the shared campus model at Webster’s High and Southmuir Primary in Kirriemuir, while 67% of staff were also against the change in school leadership being made permanent.

However, only 27 families from a possible 921 responded to the questionnaire and the feedback rate was also low among staff, with only 55 of 156 employees returning the questionnaire.

The questionnaire for pupils supported the views of the focus groups with 76% (136) of respondents in favour of the shared campus model continuing on a permanent basis.

Convener Sheena Welsh said the pupils were very happy with the arrangement and the head teacher was keen to continue with the arrangement.

She said the parent council was happy, the parents who came to the meetings were very happy and there had only been “a very small negative response”.

She recommended that a permanent appointment was made and her comments were echoed by Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor who said the children, staff and parents “all see the benefits of this”.

It was agreed to make the arrangement permanent at Webster’s and Southmuir, which sit on a shared plot.

Webster’s has had two head teachers in the past 10-year period while Southmuir has had three substantive head teachers and three acting head teachers.

In September 2015, the substantive head teacher, who had been in post at Southmuir for two years, secured a post with another local authority.

Discussions were held with the outgoing head teacher at Southmuir and the current head teacher at Webster’s and it was felt Webster’s and Southmuir might provide an opportunity for the development of a shared campus model.

The head teacher at Webster’s took on the temporary additional role of acting head teacher at Southmuir in October 2015 and will now continue in that campus headship role.

The management structures within the acting campus headship model results in an overall saving of £5,214.

Councillors agreed to make the joint headship a permanent arrangement on the shared plot of Webster’s High and Southmuir Primary.