East Lothian Courier | News | Protest over class sizes

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 08:30

Protest over class sizes

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EAST Lothian Council has defended its decision to increase class sizes at Windygoul Primary School in Tranent, which sparked widespread concern amongst parents that their children’s education is at risk.

Parents have rallied in protest against figures released by the local authority that reveal class sizes as high as 30 in P1-3 for the 2008/09 term – and the smallest, 24.

The remaining year groups contain class sizes of between 21 and 31 pupils.

The ruling SNP/Lib Dem administration pledged to reduce class sizes in P1-3 to a maximum of 18, in line with Scottish Government intentions.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, branded the latest class sizes “appalling”.

“I have problems with both the classes my daughters will be entering at Windygoul next term – each has more than 30 pupils per class,” said the mother-of-two.

“There’s so much campaigning by the SNP to reduce class sizes and then we see this happening, at a brand new school!”

“How long until it gets to breaking point?”

Four of the school’s five composite classes are at maximum capacity, with 25 pupils each, and a lack of places in the nursery class has led many parents to lodge complaints with Tranent’s community council.

Dawn Cochrane, former vice-chairman of Windygoul Parent Council, said she understood their fears.

“I know that there are a few people out there who are really concerned,” she said.

“I’m not worried about my own child’s education because I think it depends on the teacher.

“But I do feel they definitely need to provide more help for teachers if they’re going to be dealing with bigger and bigger classes.

“The size of the school has clearly not been properly thought out by the council,” she added.

The population surrounding the primary school is expected to rise significantly following the completion of the ongoing £6.4 million housing development in the West Windygoul area.

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: “I’d like to put parents’ minds at rest.

“We are aware of the growing number of primary school-aged children in the Windygoul area and we are already planning to build two extra classrooms at Windygoul Primary in 2009.

“We keep the projected school population in East Lothian under constant review so that we can predict and try to respond to needs as they develop.

In regard to the nursery school, she added: “The Windygoul Primary School nursery is full this year, and looks likely to be full again next year.

“We are monitoring the situation and can confirm that there is other good quality East Lothian Council nursery provision available in the area.”

Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council chairman Raymond Strang said: “I have received a number of complaints from parents who have been unable to secure a place for their child in the nursery class.

“It’s worrying with development of the Windygoul area not yet completed, that there’s already a trend of parents unable to get nursery places for their children.

“And that the current situation at Windygoul Primary School is in direct conflict with what the administration is aiming for in terms of class sizes.”

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