Public meeting called as anger mounts over Aberdeenshire Primary school staffing decision
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Parents of children at a rural north-east school near the coast to the east of Ellon have expressed their shock at a decision by Aberdeenshire Council to reduce its staffing level to just one teacher covering the entire age range of P1-P7.
Taking to social media a spokesperson for parents at Slains Primary School said: "Parents and children were shocked to learn this week that Aberdeenshire Council has decided to implement a ‘whole school’ class’ approach which would see all P1 to P7 pupils being taught in one classroom from the start of the new school term, despite no prior consultation and following last year’s inspection report which recommended that more needed to be done to meet the children’s learning needs.
"Aberdeenshire Council have a duty to Get It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), and surely that includes small rural schools too.
"Removing a teacher will only compromise our children's learning and their right to a good education.
"We are asking for the support of the local community!."
In a letter sent to head of Education Laurence Findlay parents said: "It is difficult to see how the council can justify increasing the maximum limit for p1-p7, whole-school composites to the same as all other composite classes when the huge age range of pupils brings such incomparable challenges.
"With 24 pupils, Slains is on the cusp of the 25 maximum limit and much closer to that than the council’s previous limit of 20 pupils.
"To create such a large class with such a broad range of learning needs can only be detrimental to the children involved.
"In addition, this comes in the wake of last year’s HMIE report which noted how at Slains in recent years “change and challenge” have had “a negative impact on children’s learning experiences and access to learning”.
"For the council to choose to inflict such a significant change on the school so soon afterwards seems unjustifiable."
The matter was discussed on Fiona Bell, chair of the parent council on BBCNorthEast who noted: "We have to have a public consultation on this, removing a teacher will only compromise our children's learning."
In response a spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said: "“We appreciate changes to class structure and configuration can cause anxiety and concern.
“This is something we are fully aware of and all necessary planning and preparation is being progressed by the school and staffing team.
“We recently reviewed the staffing formula which allocates teaching staff to primary schools.
“This resulted in changes to the number of classes allocated to some schools across Aberdeenshire, whilst working in line with nationally agreed maximum class sizes.
“The change means Slains School will be running with one class next school session.
“The head teacher, as an experienced school leader, will determine how to deploy his staffing allocation to deliver learning and teaching, meeting the needs of all learners and to progress the school’s
A public meeting will now be held at Slains Primary on Thursday, June 29 at 3.30pm to which all concerned parties are welcomed.
