Angry Highland parents scratch heads after Unison strike closes school in Applecross for days... despite no staff being on strike
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ANGRY parents have been left scratching their heads after their children's school shut for three days during recent strikes – despite no staff apparently taking industrial action.
Applecross Primary School, which accommodates around 10 pupils and two nursery children, was closed for all three days of the recent strike by Unison members on September 26 to 28.
The strikes applied only to non-teaching support staff, and it is understood that none of the staff in Applecross who fill such roles were part of the strike.
Now frustrated parent Mark Carrington, who has two children in the school, is leading calls for answers over the seemingly baffling decision to close a school which was seemingly fully staffed.
"I fully support the strikes and believe they have every right to do so," he said. "But as none of the staff were on strike, I see no reason to close the school. Registered school volunteers were also not asked to cover despite being happy to step up.
"Whose interest is it to close schools when nobody is on strike. Are other schools in the same boat? Why did 27 others remain open but not Applecross?"
He added that the closure was also frustrating for parents as they had to source childcare on the days the school was shut – something made even more irritating when he believes there was no reason for the school to close.
"No-one was on strike and the school was aware that the support staff were able to work," he continued, adding that it felt symptomatic of wider issues.
He explained that the school was also closed for a number of days shortly before the summer holidays due to staff illness, and he expressed concern that losing days of school term time to "unnecessary" closures like the ones last week were only adding to such problems.
He said it was worrying as well given the size of the school roll at a time when small schools in rural communities were under threat.
"Our only shared member of staff [with other schools] is the head-teacher who comes to our school once a month if less. There just seems to be lack of interest in our school and lack of support.
"They've been trying to make the school a Gaelic medium unit, but can't find a teacher to fill the role. Getting teachers to come to rural schools is difficult enough."
Highland Council refused to comment on the specific reasons for the closure of Applecross Primary during the strike last week, but a spokesperson said: “The council cannot comment on individual circumstances. During the recent strike action, the safe supervision of children and young people was of utmost importance and therefore the decision taken to close all schools notified was carefully determined.”
