Management of Highland schools update

Members of The Highland Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have approved a management proposal for the Farr (Sutherland) associated school group.

The new management entitlement covering Farr High and its associated Primaries of Farr, Altnaharra, Melvich and Tongue will include 1 Head Teacher (3 ‐18), 2 Depute Head Teachers (3 ‐18), and 5 Principal Teachers.

The Farr associated school grouping proposal followed further engagement and consultation including meetings with local members, Head Teachers, Parent Council Chairs, and the public. The need for a cluster arrangement was affirmed, but with additional management support at Depute Head Teacher level, taking account of the complexities of this associated school grouping.

Members noted that a management proposal for the Mallaig associated school grouping will be presented to the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee in June and also approved plans for a second phase of consultation and implementation of the management of schools programme.

Jim Steven, Head of Education said: “Proposals regarding the Management of Schools were first presented to the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee in October 2015. Since then we have been working with Head Teachers to provide them with the best opportunity to maintain standards, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and to drive further improvement.

“At the last committee meeting in January, we put forward 8 associated school groupings - 6 were approved and 2 (Farr and Mallaig) required further consideration. While we recognise complexities raised by some of the communities of Farr ASG, we think that the proposal that we have amended and put forward is good. We need to do further consultation with Mallaig ASG to take account of the island dimension and will come back to the June committee with further proposals.”