Gaelic school parents demand permanent English teacher

A demonstration by parents of children going through English-medium education at Kilmuir Primary on Skye was held outside the school.

They said pupils have had seven probationary teachers in as many years and accused the local authority of putting budgetary concerns before the needs of the children.

One parent said: “We have pleaded with the education department to give us a full time teacher for the sake of some continuity for the children but to no avail.

“It seems that the cheap way wins every time and Highland Council employs no one, filling in every time with a probationer teacher paid by the government.

Highland Council said it was “heavily engaged” in sorting out staffing at the school.

The council said: “Kilmuir Primary School has had three probationer teachers in recent years.

“We are continuing to work on the staffing exercise across the council’s schools and will contact the head teacher and parent council as soon as we are able to.”