Am Bratach No. 198
April 2008
editor@bratach.co.uk

Council ploughs on with ‘cluster’ head at primaries

Opposition by Tongue parents to the joint headship of Tongue, Farr and Melvich primary schools, revealed in Am Bratach last month, has not deterred Highland Council from pressing ahead with the appointment of a single teacher to supervise the three schools.

In the absence on holiday of the three officials said to be most involved in the decision — Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross area education manager, Graham Nichols, senior education officer, Bill Couston, and director of education, Hugh Fraser — a council spokesman said: “The Area ECS manager, Graham Nichols, met with the Tongue, Farr and Melvich primary school parent councils just prior to the Easter school holidays, during which there was a frank exchange of views.

“Mr Nichols undertook to discuss the concerns raised with the director of education, culture and sport and to get back with the decision on the way forward. As the council was unable to attract applicants for the proposed pilot cluster scheme, the post was converted to a full-time appointment some eighteen months ago. When the post holder left, an advert for the replacement of the full-time post was placed. In light of this, the decision is to proceed with the appointment as advertised.

“All three parent councils are about to be contacted to request nominations to sit on the appointments panel.”

We then addressed further questions to the council, including one about how the unpopular decision was arrived at, emphasising that, while some senior council administers were on annual leave, it must be the case that records of these decisions were available — and how they were justified.

The spokesman responding by saying: “You will appreciate that it makes sense, where possible, for officers who deal predominantly with schools, to take their annual leave entitlement during school holidays. Like Graham Nichols, Bill Couston is also on leave. It is not normal for all the people you would wish to contact to be off at the same time, but on this occasion, changes to people’s plans have led to this week being the one in the year when this has happened.

“Whilst I am able to assist with almost all queries in the directors’ absence, I am not able, between now [Thursday] and Monday, to access the reasons for the decisions and to take an informed judgement as to how to frame an official response to you for publication. I am therefore sorry that I cannot add to the statement already provided.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Farr Primary Parent Council is also opposed to the cluster headship, as proposed.

Chairwoman, Mary Cook, Bettyhill, said: “We have written to the local area education office and I, representing the parent council, advised Bill Couston of our feelings regarding the cluster at the recent meeting in Tongue. We have also asked our community council to take this matter to the next ward forum.

“We have stated that we no longer wish to be part of a cluster of three schools, as we feel that it does not work, although we would be prepared to cluster with a second school.

“At present, the acting head teacher, Mrs Jane Kitchener, has been given two days per school. We have just found out, however, that her workload has been added to as there is no nursery co-ordinator and no learning support.

“Margaret Ferguson was very hard working and in no way are we commenting on her role as a head teacher; we just feel that the post was bigger than one person, given the location of the schools, the lack of accommodation in the schools, and the fact that she was not visible.

“In Bettyhill school she had no office and was finally given a internet connection in the staff-room. This is hardly professional but she did the best with what she had. She had nowhere to keep files etc; so I believe she turned one of the bedrooms of her home into an office.

“How long will the next cluster head stay under these conditions? There is no room in Bettyhill to accommodate someone who needs an office.”

Mrs Cook added that Melvich parent council have invited her group to their next meeting to discuss this issue. “I think they may be of the same view,” she added, a view which Melvich parent council secretary, Carol Russell, has since confirmed to us.

|| In May 2006, the BBC reported that Highland Council had been unable to attract head teachers to the three schools after “repeated attempts” to fill positions once coveted by ambitious teachers. With the idea of a cluster head now forward as an alternative, the BBC report added: “Farr school board’s Steve Warner said he got the impression that the council had ‘some kind of agenda to save money and cut corners’”.