Shared head plan comes under fire
Far more scrutiny needed, says councillor
Concerns are growing over the proposal to save almost £350,000 by allowing more schools to share head teachers.
As revealed in last Friday’s Observer, the council’s budget options include saving £341,000 over the next four years by increasing the number of schools with shared headships.
Council chief executive Stewart Carruth has already said that, while some rural schools and nurseries already share heads, the proposal would not necessarily be confined to such smaller communities.
In the options document officials say the authority could “increase the number of so-called partner schools with shared or executive headships to reduce costs and encourage collaboration”.
They add: “Some establishments would become partner schools with a shared or executive headship and some nursery schools would become nursery classes within their local primary school”.
The figures suggest that £39,000 would be saved in the first year, £89,000 in 2020/21 and £213,000 in 2021/22.
The move has already proved unpopular with some readers.
Craig Cameron said: “Our education system is under severe scrutiny each year for poor results, yet the council think it’s acceptable to look at shared head teachers and how do they intend to improve results when they are unable to concentrate on one school.”
Donna Cunningham said: “Whoever is doing this budget needs sacked. Why don’t they job share and save the head teachers.”
Angela McGeachie, however, said: “I think this will come to all councils very soon. The big question is for campus/joined schools.”
Trossachs and Teith Tory councillor Martin Earl told the Observer he feels the option needs far more scrutiny given the potential implications.
He added: “This proposal is a perfect example of why the decision by the administration to hold back publishing their proposals is so wrong. There is no detail at all but if it is part of an agreed budget then the savings shown will have to be made in coming year.
“Pupils, parents and staff should expect to be provided with full details with a lot of time available to raise questions and concerns. Any specific proposal should stand on its own merits rather than be part of an already agreed budget saving that must, therefore, be met.
“There is a 341,000 saving against this budget proposal. This is a very specific figure so it suggests there could already be schools in the frame.”
Schools could also be impacted by a proposal to save £25,000 by reducing the choice on school meal menus. The option suggests reducing the menu options on offer to pupils from the current threetray/multi-choice offering to a “less varied and diverse menu” in schools to reduce costs.
The numbers of central support staff in the education team could also be slashed to save £100,000.
The Educational Psychology Service could also restructured to save £50,000 in 2018/19.
In the options, officials say: “As a smaller-scale alternative to establishing multi-agency locality teams, educational psychologists would spend part of their week colocated with outreach teachers and support workers within a school in each locality.
“These locality-based approaches to service delivery across schools would result in efficiencies, mitigating against a reduction in the size of the Educational Psychology Service.”