School change plans cause upset

A PROPOSAL to introduce two shared headship arrangements at four primary schools has been halted after it emerged Dumfries and Galloway Council had not followed their own procedures, again.

Officials want to link Troqueer Primary with New Abbey Primary, and Twynholm with Gatehouse of Fleet.

But parents have reacted angrily to the suggestion and blasted the council for lack of consultation and presenting it like a done deal.

And at Troqueer, which has 272 pupils, the parent council organised its own consultation to gather views.

It unearthed widespread concern about the potential impact on leadership and a reduced headteacher presence, as well as pupil wellbeing, safeguarding, and the day-to-day running of a large school.

Troqueer parent council co-chair Deborah Tweedie said: “Parents have engaged strongly with this consultation and have shared clear and considered views.

“The consistent message is that strong, visible leadership is essential in a school of Troqueer’s size and complexity, and reducing that presence is a significant concern for many families.”

All the findings have now been shared with councillors, along with concerns about the lack of consultation and engagement undertaken by the local authority.

Some elected members are furious they were not officially informed by officials and the Labour group has lodged an emergency motion on the matter.

It will be discussed at the next education committee on May 12 and points out that plans for further shared headteachers were not in the agreed budget and any work on such ‘should cease immediately’.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “Primary school partnership arrangements have existed for many years within our local authority. “They are designed to get best value out of resources and provide opportunities and development for the whole school community(s).

“It is not uncommon for operational decisions to be made by officials of the council in relation to changes in partnership arrangements. These changes are made when a situation within a school alters, typically an increase or decrease in school roll or temporary staffing changes due to absence.”