Minutes of the Open Meeting arranged by Gairloch High School Parent Council
Minutes adopted 9/11/09
Monday 7th September 2009, Gairloch High School
In attendance – 97 members of the school community
Key points for discussion – click here.
John Port welcomed everyone to the meeting. On behalf of the staff and pupils of the school, he thanked everyone for their support by attending.
Mary Rogers, acting chair on behalf of the Parent Council, thanked everyone for their support in letter writing and attending the meeting. She introduced Charles Kennedy – MP, Dave Thompson – MSP, Isabelle Campbell – local Councillor. She asked the Parent Council to introduce themselves. Mary gave a brief plan of the evening then updated everyone to the current situation. She expressed the Parent Council’s concern at the scale of cuts expected of a small school and the short notice given to implement the cuts. There is also concern over the HC formula regarding the number of staff to pupils as this did not take into account rural isolation. We have already lost our HE dept and history is no longer taught to Advanced Higher level, also uncertainty over the future of business studies. The morale of teachers, pupils and parents was at a low, which was especially concerning as discussions regarding the cuts were taking place at exam time. We want assurance that we will not subjected to that again. We should be retaining good teachers. It is important for the community to encourage people to move into the area. The school is the hub of the community and should offer a full curriculum for pupils.
Charles Kennedy, MP said it was good to have 3 tiers of government present – MP, MSP and local councillor. He warned that the funding situation will be more acute next year. He remembered the endeavours of Neil Wilkie, George Ginn and the school board in obtaining 6th year status for the school. He said that Hugh Fraser and others from Highland Council had been invited, but were unable to attend. With regard to the formula, he mentioned a “sparsity factor” as a school in suburban Glasgow could not be equated with a school in a remote West Coast community. He mentioned the quality academic achievement of pupils from GHS and the high level of community engagement and support for the school. If we have 3 extra pupils the surplus is reduced by 0.3.
The academic achievement also reflects on excellent primary provision in the area. He emphasised the high value that should be placed on education, the impact of council tax spend on education and the importance of maintaining the standard of excellence at the school.
Dave Thompson, MSP appreciated the level of support from parents and the local community and this will be fed back to Highland Council. He felt it would be a backward step to reduce staff and if under the current formula there were no previous staff cuts, there should remain no staff cuts now. Reference was made to the sound choice of criteria being used by the Parent Council. He appreciated that the decision by HC to introduce staff cuts was a budgetary decision and this leaves concerns for next year and the year after. The formula is a Highland Council formula, so they have the power to change the formula themselves. If a teacher is cut from a school in Inverness, the pupils have the option of attending other schools for that subject. Pupils here do not have that option and that strengthens the argument that the formula needs to take this into account.
Isabelle Campbell, local Councillor understands the local problems. This is her 3rd term on the Education Committee as an elected member. She explained that “things ain’t what they used to be” and that she wanted the best education for children. With frozen council tax, it is hard to make improvements with Highland Council having to ‘jiggle’ figures between departments. She will listen tonight and take information back to the committee.
Yvonne Spence, Parent Council opened the questions by asking if the Highland Council had a “bottom line” for the curriculum and how that equates to an equal and fair provision across the Highland area when we are being forced to make non-strategic cuts.
Charles Kennedy said the bottom line is the number of pupils in the school and mentioned that Cawdor School currently has lost 1 teacher as a result of 1 less pupil and held a similar meeting to tonight’s, a few days ago.
This led to questions and discussions from the floor.
- It was pointed out that it is short sighted to have a formula based on numbers as this breaks down as the numbers reduce and therefore any baseline should be the point at which we cease to give a balanced curriculum. Using numbers in themselves are not adequate.
- It is the role of the head teacher to provide the best education / curriculum within the formula.
- Is the formula flawed? e.g. Kinlochleven High School work to the same formula yet they have a college nearby to provide any subjects not offered by the school.
- Secondary education must have a broad range of subjects to provide equal opportunities for young people wishing to go onto Higher education
- Cutting subjects does not give a balanced education
Isabelle Campbell said she would challenge the formula and this would go for a full HC vote. She will also check when the formula had been decided upon.
Charles Kennedy said the formula was irreducible.
Floor – HC should not be using formula in small schools. Schools should be looked at individually and their specific needs taken into account.
Dave Thompson – Reiterated that we were right to focus on the formula as H.C. would use the formula as ‘the bottom line’. According to letter from Hugh Fraser, the cuts are to do with formula, not with budget. A change to the formula will put us in a better position next year.
Floor – We cannot attract good quality teachers if no security or only part time posts available.
Dave Thompson – said that was a good point for not letting it drop any further – Teacher levels need to be maintained.
Charles Kennedy – pointed out that ‘standardised is absurd’ when quoting from Hugh Fraser’s letter re the formula! He also highlighted that the formula is only Highland wide, so can be changed in Highland without having to go to Holyrood.
Mary Rogers – Counterparts are different – we have a special case! GHS is unique as one teacher often means one subject or one department. Pupils have one chance at their education, we need to provide for them.
Floor – This has an impact on the wider community. This can dissuade families from moving into the area and can also persuade families to move out to areas where they will get a full curriculum on offer. He pointed out that we are entitled to a certain standard of health care and said that surely our children are entitled to a minimum standard of education…what is the minimum level and who decides what it is? Another person said she moved here with her family from a smaller community and one of the deciding factors had been the good reputation of GHS and the wide range of subjects offered.
Another comment from the floor commented on the hard fight to upgrade to 6th year status. When the school was only to 2nd year status, this was not only a deterrent for people moving in, but we had no young people in our community from Monday to Friday each week. The fight is showing its fruits as exam achievement is excellent each year. Statistics were gathered at the time as to the success of progression of the children and proved that the new school had been more than justified and the signs what he sees now is the possibility of reversal. He went on to say that we must not allow this to happen as it will have an adverse effect on the community.
Charles Kennedy – This historical information is very important.
Floor – It would cost a lot more to provide travel and hostel accommodation compared to funding the extra staff needed in the school. What is happening with the HE department?
John Port – The HE post is 0.7 and it is almost impossible to recruit for part-time posts. With the current uncertainty it is not possible to reorganise to make this up to a full time post to advertise, since if someone came into the HE post, another member of staff would have to be lost from another department.
Charles Kennedy- The cost to the school being currently ‘overstaffed’ by 1.5 teachers is approximately £40,000. A probationer leaving the history department and reduced teaching time in PE has already contributed savings.
Floor - The cost is actually £40,000 plus an HE teacher.
Floor - Referred to the fact that we have established the formula is flawed and also that it’s been clarified the situation is to get much worse before it gets better; the head teacher being forced into a position with an inability to manage coupled with the ‘shambolic way the situation’s been brought about’! Highland Council is not giving John Port enough information to enable him an opportunity to make recruitment decisions. He should be given suitable visibility e.g. a 4 year projection.
We want to see full provision back on the curriculum so that it is a full and properly balanced curriculum. Does the cut curriculum meet the needs of the pupils? It’s not adequate to simply say you must manage that ‘specific financial amount’ if the amount does not cover requirements.
Dave Thompson – A letter received from Hugh Fraser on 4th June says a balanced curriculum is being offered with full choice of subjects. Who decides and agrees what a “balanced curriculum” is?
Mary Rogers – There should be fair and equal access to all pupils. Our pupils should have the same access to education as pupils in the centre of Inverness.
Floor – If we want full time HE, history and business studies teachers, how many more pupils would we need.
If school role increased, how quickly can staff numbers be increased?
John Port – At least 20 additional pupils. The role was 225 when he came into post. It’s currently 184, going up slightly next year and then is projected to take a slight dip to around 170 over the next 5-10 yrs before increasing again to 190+ over the next 10-15 yrs. There would be no problem then in advertising for more staff. He was asked how quickly the formula can be reversed – this can be done as quickly as things are progressing currently.
Dave Thompson – explained that Council Tax is frozen but that the council gets the 2.5% back from Holyrood so there is no actual cost to the council! He also explained that the Council has a problem with PPP PFI – due to miscalculating it has overspent to the tune of 754K. On top of that, it has a recurring 356K on the education budget, not all of it on the PFI mistake and one which will recur for 27 yrs, effectively like a mortgage, adding several millions on long term!!
Floor – How does the curriculum at GHS compare with other schools such as Plockton and Ullapool?
Isabelle Campbell – Plockton & Portree High Schools share staff. Could Gairloch and Ullapool?
John Port – There are no available staff at either Ullapool or Dingwall (which would be easier for travelling than Ullapool). We want a solution locally. Sharing has already been tried with other resources eg Youthwork and it does not work as effectively as working with members of our own community.
Floor – Is there such a thing as Equal Access to Education (like Equal Access to health). Is equal access to education a right for all children?
Charles Kennedy – Local authorities are equal but they are not the same; uniformity of provision – not necessarily.
Floor – Regarding the removal of ring fenced money, if the formula was changed, there needs to be some protection on funds for education.
Dave Thompson – Decisions to be handled locally would be preferred.
Floor – Is the Curriculum for Excellence the same for both Gairloch and Dingwall?
Charles Kennedy –It will provide a more holistic approach to education.
John Port – Believes his staff are well qualified to provide Curriculum for Excellence, possibly better than Dingwall and other schools, but if we have to take into account C for E along with budget restraints this may be at the expense of teaching certain subjects at certain levels in the senior school.
Mary Rogers – Curriculum for Excellence has a new S1-S3 curriculum where staff will work across subject areas. Pupils will then move into studying specialist subjects in S4-S6, and the General Teaching Council’s professional legislation is very clear that it is not acceptable to use non-specialist teachers. How can the necessary spread of expertise for core and specialist teaching be achieved so that the required Highers are available for Uni and future employment, when departments are being cut? She has real concerns about C for E.
Charles Kennedy – The strength of turnout has been positive and will be communicated back. The formula needs to be looked at, at all 3 levels – MP, MSP, and Local Council. If this is not addressed now, it could mean bigger problems here and in other places and is the start of things to come.
There were no further questions from pupils.
Mary Rogers asked each representative what they will take back with them.
- Isabelle Campbell – She will challenge the formula and she will talk to Hugh Fraser.
- Dave Thompson – Has been supporting the Parent Council and will continue to do that. He will write to Hugh Fraser and the Chief Executive. He will be sharing information from tonight with his SNP colleagues.
- Charles Kennedy – Will also continue in his full support of the Parent Council and will keep in touch with the school and with the Parent Council. He will be contacting Hugh Fraser and looking at the formula.
Mary Rogers – Thanked the representatives and the audience for attending and for their participation and input into the evening.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm
