Education chiefs under fire over Sutherland schools revamp
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NORTH coast parents are to meet with Highland Council director of education Hugh Fraser next week as a row threatens to erupt over management changes at local schools.
Parent representatives were unexpectedly informed on Monday that Melvich and Farr primaries are to lose their present cluster head and instead come under the leadership of Farr High School.
The move is understood to be temporary for the nine week summer term only.
But parents are angry that they were not consulted beforehand and concerned that the arrangement could become permanent.
They are also worried that the two primaries could be left on the sidelines while Farr High School managers cope with the introduction of new Curriculum for Excellence exams next term.
News of the management changes was broken by Sutherland education, culture and sport manager Graham Nichols.
He explained that Cath Rigby, cluster headteacher at Melvich and Farr primaries, was being seconded to the headteacher’s post at Miller Academy Primary School in Thurso.
In her absence, Ms Rigby’s role would be taken up by Emma Taylor, headteacher at Farr High School, he said.
Ms Taylor has been in post for less than a year and her deputy head, Joanne Stewart, for less than a month.
Other staffing changes are also understood to be in the offing with the suggestion that one of the teaching posts at Melvich could become a promoted post and the offer of playground supervision at the school.
Lucy Drennan, a member of Farr Primary Parent Council, claimed Highland Council had gone about the moves in an "underhand" manner.
"Education managers told us about the changes rather than discussing it with us or carrying out a consultation exercise," she said.
"We feel that although it is a temporary solution at the moment it could easily become permanent."
Beth Grant, chairman of Farr High School Parent Council, said it was unacceptable that parent representatives were sent an email on Friday asking them to attend a meeting on Monday without being told what it was about.
She described the meeting as "cloak and dagger" and said: "When we voiced our concern the attitude was – tough that is what is happening."
Mrs Grant expressed astonishment that officials had expected the parent councils to issue a letter to parents outlining and endorsing the changes.
She said: "Our fear is that it is a sneaky way of creating a three-cluster school comprising Melvich and Farr primaries, along with Farr High School.
"Education officials might say at the end of the nine weeks that the arrangement had worked well and should be maintained."
Ms Grant said the situation was set to become even more difficult with the forthcoming departure of Tongue Primary School headteacher Marissa Melville.
Pete Malone, who runs Bettyhill General Merchants and is a co-opted member of the reconstituted Farr primary council, pointed out that next term would see a period of major educational change.
He said parents were concerned that the relatively new management team at Farr High would have to cope with new exams as well as the added responsibility for two primary schools.
North, west and central Sutherland councillor Linda Munro, who attended Tuesday’s parent council meeting, said: "No one present was happy with the situation, whether because they had not been consulted or because Melvich and Farr are now in a cluster with the High School
"Parents are understandably upset that they are losing the cluster head for Farr and Melvich primaries.
"They feel that with the recent introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence and the fact that the headteacher and deputy head at Farr High School are still relatively new in post, this is the wrong time for a new cluster."
Councillor Munro said she had asked education director Hugh Fraser to speak to parents.
"I think this meeting has to take place. There has to be clarity on the way forward and a clearer understanding of where we are going," she said.
Asked for comment, Graham Nichols stated in an email: "I can confirm the following: education director Hugh Fraser has agreed to meet the parents next week and the proposed arrangement is for the summer term of nine weeks only."
