U-turn after heads revolt over school cuts

CONTROVERSIAL plans to wipe millions of pounds from school budgets in Edinburgh have been dropped following a protest by headteachers.

The city council has pledged to protect both the devolved budgets held by individual schools and central education funds despite a 3.7 million shortfall.

The move comes after headteachers refused a request to identify savings in their budgets, warning that it would mean cutting staff. It also means that plans to get rid of 3000 school computers and turn down the heating in school buildings are set to be shelved.

The Lib Dem-SNP administration are understood to have agreed to find the 3.7m by taking money from other budgets and savings made by closing schools.

It is not known which other departments will be forced to shoulder deeper cuts as a result.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education leader, said: "I am very pleased and relieved to be able to announce that the administration will be protecting schools in the forthcoming budget, and therefore there will be no cuts to direct school funding this year.

"In a very tight financial situation, this underscores the administration's overwhelming commitment to education and young people. Our children are indeed our future and they deserve a high quality educational service to realise their potential.

"I believe that happy, healthy and well-educated children are worth paying for."

On Thursday the Evening News revealed that headteachers across the Capital had banded together to present a united front against the cuts, refusing to identify potential savings when asked by city leaders. Secondary schools had faced losing in the region of 80,000 per year, while primaries would have lost an average of 20,000.

The move is one of the first items to be finalised as part of the city council's budget plans for 2009-10.

Last month 30 of Edinburgh's parent councils joined together to produce a dossier of evidence showing how similar savings of 1.5 per cent implemented in 2007 had hit schools.

Most said they have had to cut back on things such as providing supply teachers to cover sickness, additional support for children with learning difficulties and general repairs and maintenance.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's finance leader, said: "We have had intensive discussions in the past weeks and months in order to be able to reach this position.

"It has been difficult given the current financial climate but this decision is in tune with the public's priorities and shows that we have been listening to the people of Edinburgh."