School head teachers in revolt

Published on Thursday 29 January 2009 09:10

HEADTEACHERS across the Capital are refusing to identify any more cuts in their budgets in an effort to protect teachers' jobs.

The heads have banded together to form a united front after being asked to find savings of up to two per cent – around 100,000 at an average-sized high school.

They feel the only way they can do this is to cut jobs so they have refused a council request to identify potential savings. The move means the local authority is likely to press ahead with the alternative of finding cuts from the central education budget, including turning down heating in classrooms and getting rid of 3000 computers.

The protest is understood to include all the 23 secondaries and 92 primaries in the city. The schools are still struggling with the impact of last year's 1.5 per cent "efficiency savings". One headteacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "We didn't want to be seen to be colluding with the director of education on making these budget cuts."

Parents today praised the headteachers for taking a stand.

They have already compiled a dossier for the council showing the proposed cuts would force schools to reduce the number of subjects they offer, cut learning support, and reduce staff.

Last year's cuts left some pupils missing out on PE and art classes, as well as classroom assistants and learning support staff. Some teachers and parents even ended up buying textbooks and paper for the children.

Liz Carrie, chair of Balerno parent council, said: "They feel very strongly that the 1.5 per cent last year was as far as they could go."

Headteachers' devolved budgets cover everything from staffing costs to textbooks, jotters, art supplies, repairs and maintenance.

Last week, Rory Mackenzie, head at Balerno High, accused politicians of failing to grasp the pressures facing schools, as they tried to bring in changes to teaching practices and cut budgets.

Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers, said: "Headteachers are

caught between the authority and parents. If a school takes a hit of two per cent, the only way will be for it to look at staff. When you start to squeeze staff, you run into a lot of other difficulties."

A council spokesperson said: "There have been meetings with headteachers, at which they have made constructive contributions about the budget plans. Like all parties, the administration is considering the departmental budget packs and will reach a decision about the budget on February 12."