Teaching provision at Bun-Sgoil Shlèite, Isle of Skye

Members of The Highland Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have endorsed the Council’s existing policy across Highland regarding teacher/pupil ratios.

This endorsement rejects an online petition regarding the application of the Council’s teacher/pupil ratio with regard to Bun-Sgoil Shlèite – Sleat Primary School on the Isle of Skye.

Sleat Primary school is staffed according to The Highland Council’s staffing policy, the same as all other Gaelic Medium classes across Highland. No member of staff has been removed from the school.

Last session, due to maternity leave, the school was allocated a probationer who remained in post following the return of the substantive post holder, as the probationer required to complete the year at the school.

Director of Care and Learning, Bill Alexander said: “The council has had a petitions procedure for some time. While a number of comments on this petition come from outside the Council area it is clear that there is a lot of local feeling about this issue, hence why it has been brought to committee. We have discussed this with the Parent Council. This is a matter of council policy that we apply to all schools.”

He added: “We remain clear that we should stick with Council policy. The Area Care and Learning Manager has been in touch with the school and is confident that we can deliver Gaelic Medium Education at Sleat Primary School within the existing policy.”

Members endorsed the existing policy across Highland regarding teacher/pupil ratios.
27 Aug 2015