Parents at Helensburgh school claim they are being kept in dark about decisions

Parents at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh are claiming there has been a breakdown in communication between the school and the council.

Some members from the parent council are telling Clyde 1 they were shocked to discover the head teacher role had been filled on a permanent basis last week.

"It feels like this decision has been underhand"

When the acting headteacher was appointed two years ago, Stella Kinloch claims they were told the position would be re-advertised before it was appointed permanently.

She said: "I am now starting to wonder if we have a voice at all, it just feels like we are tick box.

"We spend a lot of time volunteering to make improvements to our school.

"There is a difference between moving forward and charging ahead and it feels like this decision has been underhand."

"We should have had our say"

The head of the parent council, Andrew Tennant, claims the group does a lot of work to maintain good relationships with teachers and other parents for the benefit of pupils.

He told Clyde 1: "We want to move forward in a positive way and we are the tramlines in which the school runs on.

"We understand our children better than anyone else and we should have the right to have a say on who is the right candidate to lead our children.

"I am not suggesting the person in the role shouldn't be there, but we should have had our say."

"We went beyond the statutory requirements"

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: "Our focus is on securing the best possible outcomes for our children and young people and that is what we will continue to do.

"We went beyond the statutory requirements required and have delivered on what we agreed.

"As reported by Education Scotland, the school is now on a very positive track under the new head teacher and we wish him every success in his leadership."

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