Tough Choices for education

Sep 9 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

EDUCATION fell under the spotlight last week as talks continue on cost savings at West Lothian Council.

Councillors, representatives from community groups and representatives from education and unions took part in two Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels (PDSPs) last Monday.

The meeting is one of 17 special PDSPs taking place this summer, but no decisions on the proposals will be made until next year.

The aim of the meetings, part of the council’s Tough Choices consultation, was to review and discuss officer-led proposals to achieve a saving in Education Services over the next three years.

The council say proposals aim to focus on maintaining the highest possible quality of teaching and learning for almost 30,000 children and young people in schools.

The council are currently planning for an estimated budget shortfall of £45 million by 2014.

Among the major areas being considered is a 17 per cent reduction in the number of pupil support assistants.

But senior education officers assured the panel that this could be achieved through redesigning the service and that staff and trade unions would be consulted in this process.

It was also stressed that children with Additional Support Needs would not be affected by the proposed changes.

Members of the PDSP were also asked to consider an increase in teaching time for promoted staff in primary schools, placing an emphasis on core service delivery.

There was an extensive discussion on the removal of free fruit and bread, and an increase in the charge for milk. It was explained to the panel that free milk could be aligned with free school meals and while there was concern that this may label children, this was fiercely defended.

Under the scheme, the cost of milk to parents would be increased to £30.40 (currently £24.70) per year and this could continue to be paid on a term-by-term basis as it is at present.

It was felt that the free fruit and bread were no longer required and the school meal would be adjusted to ensure national targets for nutritional value were met.

In addition the council were providing free nutritional breakfasts in 24 primary schools prioritising areas of relative deprivation.

Members of the PDSP were very interested in the proposals to provide a ‘virtual senior school campus’ to provide greater choice in S5 and S6 in smaller schools.

The proposal would be developed in conjunction with teachers, unions, senior pupils and in consultation with parents.

Gordon Ford, depute chief executive, explained: “Proposed change to the ‘virtual senior school’ curriculum is intended to increase pupil choice and protect minority subjects.

“Class sizes in some Higher and Advanced Higher classes will inevitably rise but feedback from senior pupils in our schools suggest they much prefer the learning experience of a slightly larger class to that of a class with only two or three students.”

Chair of the meeting, executive councillor for education, Andrew Miller, added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the two meetings.

“I think that they were very positive and contributed greatly to the consultation process.

“They quite rightly examined in detail additional support needs and being reassured that no reductions are proposed in this area. I would also like to thank everyone who submitted ideas for their contribution.”