Call to end church votes on education

When a rural Perthshire school shut two years ago it was church representatives who sealed its fate.

Blairingone Primary School would have been saved by councillors, but the votes of two unelected clergy on Perth and Kinross Council’s lifelong learning committee sealed its fate.

With new councils forming across Scotland, the place of religion in determining the fate of schools and what goes on inside them is again being questioned.

Outrage over Blairingone resulted in Perth and Kinross Council becoming the first Scottish local authority to scrap church member voting rights.

When the majority of Scotland’s residents say they belong to no religion, many are questioning if it is right for religions to influence what happens in the nation’s classrooms.

While a law from 1973 requires councils to appoint religious representatives to committees considering education matters, the Scottish Government says it is up to individual authorities whether these members can vote.

Trudy Duffy-wigman, chairwoman of Fossoway and District Community Council, was angry about what happened with Blairingone school.

She said: “It was an absolute tragedy because it was a school that performed very well for a small amount of kids.”

She backs the council’s decision to end the voting rights of church members, arguing it should be replicated elsewhere.

“Maybe because of the school system in this country it is good if there are representatives on the committees of a variety of faiths, not just Christian, but I don’t think the role should go beyond advisory.”

Fraser Sutherland, chief executive of the Humanist Society Scotland, says allowing religious representatives votes on council-run schools is undemocratic.

His organisation fears the results of last week’s elections could give church votes greater weight in some areas, adding: “Right across Tayside and Fife councils will be finely balanced between administration and opposition members.

“The unelected religious representatives add an unknown dynamic that is unaccountable to the electorate.

“We believe only elected councillors should be in a position to make important decisions about how local schools are run.”

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: “The church’s representation on local authority committees reflects the contemporary role that it plays in society and community.

“The role and place of our representatives on local authority education committees is part of our work of seeking to serve the whole community.

“This includes spiritual development and learning about faith and religion but also for young people’s welfare and wellbeing, that they may grow up in a Scotland free from poverty, discrimination and fear.”

Before the election, Fife, Dundee City and Angus councils each had three religious representatives on their education and children’s services subcommittee and on their, children and families services and lifelong learning committees.

Fife Council said standing orders governing voting rights for the new council will be approved on May 19 and Angus Council said the make-up of its committee will be determined on May 26.

Dundee City Council has yet to respond.

ANGER: Trudy Duffy-wigman says other councils should follow the lead set by the Perth and Kinross local authority. Picture by Steve Macdougall.