December 2009 Update

This monthly update is dedicated to Education cuts.

You may have seen in the press that a rethink is going on at Holyrood as a result of falling teacher numbers, broken promises on class sizes and a failure to build new schools.

What is less known is that we also have a local crisis in education in Renfrewshire. 2089 teacher posts have been axed across Scotland in the last 2 years – but 210 of those posts were here in Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire was responsible for 10% of the teachers lost across the country even though Renfrewshire accounts for just 3% of the Scottish population. It means that here in Renfrewshire we are axing teachers three times faster than the Scottish average. Tragically it means Renfrewshire schools now have the worst pupil:teacher ratios in the whole of Scotland. Overall class sizes in Renfrewshire are going up not down. Although Renfrewshire has falling school rolls, teachers are being axed even faster.

If you would like to see the impact on these teachers cuts on your local school please click here.

These depressing cuts mean there are now over 200 fewer teaching posts for newly qualified teachers in Renfrewshire.

Click here to read some of the heart rendering testimonies I have received recently from local new young, enthusiastic teachers who can find no work. One is working as an usherette at the cinema in Linwood, another is signing on and a third is working in a private care home for the minimum wage to try and make ends meet. I have changed their names to protect their identity so they cannot be disciplined for breach of contract for simply speaking out.

But there is something you can do now to object to these cuts. Sign the petition here. The petition will go to Renfrewshire Council education officials asking to end the cuts in teacher numbers and school budgets which have resulted in Renfrewshire coming bottom of the class in Scotland.

In the last 2 years the Heads of Service in council departments including Education have been awarded a 22% pay rise. We must change the mindset that votes for big pay rises for education bosses whilst axing classroom teachers and supplies.