Teachers told of looming staff cuts in high schools

Region’s secondary schools will axe 25 promoted positions this year alone

Fife teachers have been informed of proposals to cut the number of staff in the region’s schools.

It is understood 25 promoted posts are to be axed in secondary schools, as head teachers face slashed budgets.

Another 30 are expected to go next year.

Staff were called to meetings in high schools across the region yesterday afternoon, where head teachers presented proposals for consultation.

Some £1.28 million has been cut from the region’s secondary schools budget, with Madras College, Bell Baxter, Balwearie and Inverkeithing high schools hit hardest.

There are concerns that staff reductions could impact on teaching and subject choice for pupils and increase workload for teachers.

David Farmer, Fife spokesman for the EIS teaching union, said teachers and parents had serious worries.

He said: “The intention is to get rid of about 25 secondary school promoted posts this year and the same again next year.

“We are talking about all sorts of damaging effects for schools.

“Parents have real concerns about the curriculum. There’s a pretty good chance the opportunity for kids to follow certain courses is going to be restricted.

“It means 25 fewer opportunities for promotion for teachers. There’s also the effect on workload. The posts will go but the work won’t go anywhere, it will be shared by staff in the schools.”

Mr Farmer said this year’s education budget had already been set by Fife Council but the union has written to every councillor urging them to avoid making similar cuts next year.

Council head of education and children’s services Shelagh McLean said: “Our head teachers had informal discussions prior to the summer break with their staff about individual proposals on how their schools might manage their staffing levels within the budget expected from 2018.

“From these ongoing discussions our head teachers have developed further proposals for their individual schools, which they will now formally present to their staff for full consultation.

“The quality of teaching and learning in our schools is fundamental to our ambitions for our young people and a fairer, stronger Fife.

“Our focus will continue to be on the best possible outcomes for children and young people and their future life chances.”

“There’s a pretty good chance the opportunity for kids to follow certain courses is going to be restricted