Principal Teachers Could Make Comeback In Moray Primary Schools

Proposals which would see changes to the leadership and management in Moray’s primary schools will be considered by councillors this week.

It follows a review of the impact which resulted from the decision to remove the post of principal teachers in primary schools two years ago.

As part of the review, head teachers were also for their comments and the teaching union EIS also surveyed its members to obtain their views.

A report which will go to Moray Council’s children and young people’s services on Wednesday states: “It is evident from the views gathered that the removal of these posts has had an impact on leadership and management capacity in our primary schools and in terms of succession planning.

“Increased expectations from Education Scotland in terms of the curriculum and self-evaluation, coupled with the introduction of ‘named person’ legislation, is adding to the pressures being placed on our primary head teachers.

“We are starting to note the concerns of decreased capacity in certain inspection reports which have been published over the past two-year period.”

The report points out that currently schools in Moray were entitled to one depute head teacher when the pupil roll reaches 221 and to a second depute head when the roll reaches 326.

“There is currently no provision for additional promoted staff in very large primary schools, some of which are larger than some of our secondary schools. This also means that in schools with 220 pupils and under – other than schools with paired head teachers – there is no management team, only a head teacher. This is proving untenable in terms of leading and managing the service.”

Councillors will be asked to look at a number of options, including one which would see the current formula remodelled for schools with145 or more pupils. Options are also presented for schools with 144 or fewer pupils, which would apply to more than half of Moray’s 45 primary schools.