What the council don’t want people to know: OVER £2.5M TO BE FOUND FROM LOCAL SCHOOL BUDGETS THIS SESSION

As a result of budget cuts in education imposed by Council leadership over the last 2 years – Renfrewshire schools this session will be forced into savings of over £2.5 million.

Local school savings being demanded in 2009/10 from local head teachers are (click to enlarge):

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Many parents fear speaking out and teachers are in breach of contract if they voice their feelings, but some parents have spoken of impact on their schools.

Laura with a child in a Shortroods Primary said “My son, who is P2, is one of 4 P2s in a class full of P1s, with one teacher. I feel he is going back a bit.”

Alison said “one classroom assistant told us she had to buy her own glue sticks.”

Jackie, whose child attends one of the Seedhill Primary schools, “I was shocked to hear the extent of these cuts – when senior officials are paying themselves more, council tax is left uncollected, and money available for endless glossy leaflets – I want my child to have jotters, and head teachers not to have to keep filling in gaps in absence cover. I am all for trying to stop it happening again next year.”

Lisa of Gallowhill said “Kids are now not getting any activities outside school premises…day trips or outings”

Local MSP Wendy Alexander said:
“Since the recent start of the new school term, parents, pupils and teachers are doing all they can to make our schools as successful and effective as possible. Sadly however, education is not getting the priority it deserves in Renfrewshire.

“Parents are being kept in the dark about the cuts each head teacher is having to make in their own school’s budget. Across Renfrewshire, these savings total over £2.5 million this year. It is coming from classroom supplies, teacher staffing and support staffing.

Last year the Council got its largest ever grant from the Scottish Government but it still forced through real cuts in its education budget. Over 100 teachers were axed. So there is no ‘fat’ left in our schools. Most parents have not been told of the cuts and head teachers cannot speak out.

I believe parents can win the battle against further cuts. Last year local parents and pupils successfully demanded a rethink of Council plans to cut musical instrument tuition – their objections led to a change of heart by the Council and weekly instrument lessons being retained in primary schools.
We can force change again.”