Ullapool and Gairloch schools' crisis: Education Secretary responds to concerns

SCOTTISH Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth says Highland Council has the tools at its disposal to tackle the rural schools' crisis flagged in a high-profile campaign which is gaining momentum.

As we reported last week, an open letter from the Save Our Rural Schools campaign highlighted grave concerns about provision for senior pupils in four west Highland schools – two of them in Ross-shire.

It bluntly tells of how the small rural schools are “failing to provide a basic curriculum” due to unavailability of core subjects, under-staffing, and insufficient funding that is “taking its toll” on the future and wellbeing of pupils, teachers and the livelihoods of these rural communities.

“It is important that we recognise the specific context of our rural schools, which is why local councils currently have the autonomy to provide incentives to attract teachers to their area. It is right that any decision to do so is taken at a local level given that local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff." - Jenny Gilruth

Parents from Ullapool, Gairloch, Kinlochbervie and Farr High Schools are backing the campaign, launched on February 6.

In the open letter, the west Highland parents bluntly tells of how the small rural schools are “failing to provide a basic curriculum” due to unavailability of core subjects, under-staffing, and insufficient funding that is “taking its toll” on the future and wellbeing of pupils, teachers and the livelihoods of these rural communities.

So far, the open letter addressed to Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner and education secretary Jenny Gilruth has received nearly 700 signatures.

READ MORE ON THE SAVE OUR RURAL SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN:

• Ullapool parent council campaign surpasses 600 signatures – and awaits education secretary response

• Ullapool and Gairloch high schools cannot deliver 'even a basic curriculum'

• West Highland parents say their high schools "are beyond breaking point"

Ms Gilruth has responded to the Ross-shire Journal with a comment on the issues raised in the open letter but is yet to respond directly to the concerned parents.

She said: “It is important that we recognise the specific context of our rural schools, which is why local councils currently have the autonomy to provide incentives to attract teachers to their area. It is right that any decision to do so is taken at a local level given that local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff. To support them, we are providing local authorities with £145.5 million in this year's budget to protect teacher numbers.

“Councils are able to extend subject choice through school-college partnerships, digital platforms and collaborative approaches to timetabling. This includes accessing e-Sgoil who provide a range of online provision for national courses.”

However, the Virtual Academy learning provision, provided by University of the Highlands and Islands, also holds fault according to the open letter. The parent councils say Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications facilitated there have on occasion been discontinued halfway through the course. They have cited "unreliable administrative processes and inconsistent service provision" with "no co-ordination between Highland Council and distance learning providers".

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