Letter to MP
Gairloch High School Parent Council
Chair: Mr Robin Fox, Camusfearna, 23B Laide IV22 2NP
Clerk: Mrs Susan MacLean, 1 Culconich, Aultbea, Wester Ross IV22 2JF
Charles Kennedy MP
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA
23rd April 2009
Dear Mr Kennedy
GAIRLOCH HIGH SCHOOL
We have been alarmed to hear from the Head Teacher that Highland Council cuts require an immediate reduction in staffing of 3.29 FTE (his letter to parents and carers of pupils is attached).
We understand that the Head Teacher had one week to submit a plan, before receiving permission to advertise the vacant post of Head of Learning Support, precluding proper consultation and planning for our children’s educational needs.
Two subjects, History and Business Studies have been removed from Standard Grade course choices for next year as cuts had to be made on the basis of expediency. In a school the size of Gairloch there is often only one teacher for a subject, and in these cases an entire department will be lost from the curriculum if that staff member is cut. The specialist History teacher is currently a probationer and we understand cannot, in line with Scottish Executive policy, be offered a permanent post as expected. This would equally apply to any other subject filled by a probationer and indicates how a freeze on vacancies skews the curriculum. It is in stark contrast to the consistent requirement from HMI for Gairloch High School to provide a full curriculum.
Gairloch High School is a comprehensive school serving a large rural area. The nearest alternative secondary school is 50 miles away and not accessible by public transport and the nearest college is 70 miles away. There is therefore no opportunity to retain curriculum options through joint working. Gairloch High School curriculum also has to take account of the lack of access for vocational skills development and work experience locally. This demonstrates the inappropriateness of applying the same staffing formulae to rural and urban areas.
Gairloch High School was originally set up to provide a full curriculum locally to prevent the need for pupils to travel to Dingwall or further afield to have their educational needs met and it has been a major factor in reversing the depopulation of the area.
The up-grading to 4th and then 6th year provision was fought for on the basis of a balanced curriculum and being able to offer the subjects which were available in larger schools. It was recognised that the then Achtercairn Secondary School should not have been treated as a “second class” school because of its rural location and it was not acceptable for the pupils to have to travel to Dingwall and stay in hostels. Mr Neil Wilkie who was prominent in securing provision of the new school, Gairloch High, received an OBE for “Services to Education”.
Cuts undo the careful work over many years to address the paucity of educational opportunities in this rural area, yet Gairloch High School is still expected to somehow attain high levels of standard and higher grade passes.
It is incredible that in the 21st century a school with a reputation for academic achievement cannot offer History. The Scottish Executive fought for a Higher in Scottish History to be introduced, but now a Highland school is again being denied this opportunity at Standard grade for the Year 2 now making their course choices. In the year of The Homecoming (celebrating Scottish culture and history) it is poignant that a Highland school has to remove History from its course choices for next year.
If History and Business Studies are not quickly restored our children will be disadvantaged when they find themselves in competition for jobs or further education places with students to whom these subjects have been available.
Gairloch High School’s unique rural remoteness means that it cannot sustain these cuts and still provide an adequate education for the children of the area.
We look forward to hearing your views.
Yours sincerely
Robin Fox
Chair
Gairloch High School Parent Council
c.c. Cllr Bill Fernie, Chairman, Education, Culture and Sport Committee, The Highland Council
Hugh Fraser, Director of Education, The Highland Council
John Port, Head Teacher
