East Lothian Courier | News | Fewer kids so class is cut

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 22nd May, 2008 08:05

Fewer kids so class is cut

CLAIMS that a cut in the number of classes at Prestonpans Primary School next term would cause “disadvantaged children to be disadvantaged even further,” were challenged by the local authority this week.

It was revealed that an expected drop in the school roll had prompted the decision. However, the average class size at the primary school would, in fact, be lower next term.

Local councillor, Willie Innes told a meeting of community leaders last week that the school would lose two teachers and two classes in changes that would take effect after the summer break.

Mr Innes, who represents Preston, Seton and Gosford, said: “It was reported in the press that the leader of the council was disappointed by the lack of the progress at the school, following a recent follow-up inspection there.

“How can the council expect a school to move forward when they are reducing both the number of teachers and the number of classes?” he asked.

“There are three areas of deprivation, as recognised by the government, in East Lothian, and Prestonpans has two of these three areas. These changes will cause disadvantaged children to be disadvantaged even further.”

Mr Innes was also concerned about the effect that any changes would have on the quality of teaching at the school.

“Once we have reductions like this, you find that the management team has to spend more time teaching and has less management time and so the school suffers.

“The school also has a large proportion of inexperienced teachers, so the mentoring of these inexperienced teachers will also suffer.”

Mr Innes added that the proposed changes were causing concern in the town and were similar to a change made at the town’s infant school last year.

“The parent council are extremely concerned about this,” he said. “Last year we lost a teacher at the infant school and we were told about this on the last day of term.

“I think the public should raise concerns with the council.

“The administration made a commitment to 18 pupils per class. They made a contract with the people of East Lothian. They should keep the promises they are elected on.”

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council stressed that there would be one, rather than two, fewer classes next term, based on a drop in pupil numbers.

“This year (2007/08), there are 12 classes. In 2008/09, our figures indicate that the school roll is likely to drop by 34 pupils. There will therefore be 11 classes,” she said.

“Average classes will fall from 25.25 this term to 24.45 in 2008/09.

“The number of established teaching staff will remain the same. The two teachers who are leaving are newly qualified and were in their first post-qualifying probationary year. They are moving elsewhere to carry out their second probationary year. This is standard practice.”

Don Ledingham, East Lothian’s acting director of education, said: “As with any drop in any school roll you have to re-evaluate your staff.

“But we’ve been making additional plans and the school will be satisfactorily staffed. There will be a composite class, but it should be noted that 80 per cent of our schools have a composite class and these have proved very effective in their delivery.”

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