‘Super head’ plan for two city schools

One head teacher could be appointed to run two of Aberdeen’s Catholic primaries – and the model could be rolled out to other schools suffering from teacher shortages.

The city council is considering recruiting an “executive head” to oversee the Holy Family school in Summerhill and St Joseph’s on Queen’s Road, it has emerged.

The plans are being drawn up due to “challenges” in recruiting head teachers at both schools, with the post at Holy Family having been advertised seven times and no suitable candidates applying for St Joseph’s.

But the move provoked a furious backlash from opposition politicians,

“There are opportunities for consortia arrangements”

who branded it a “worrying cost cutting exercise” and a “backward step” last night.

City education chiefs outlined the proposal in evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee.

They also suggested the arrangement could be considered for other schools, saying: “There are opportunities for consortia arrangements to take place to support delivery of courses and subjects which are suffering from staff shortages and this could be something which could be extended to senior management posts.”

Teacher shortages have been a chronic problem for all north and northeast authorities in recent years.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Greig criticised the proposals for the city’s Catholic schools, saying: “This is a worrying cost cutting exercise.

“Each school is a distinct community of learning and care so should have its own dedicated head teacher.”