By Gordon Berry

FIFE COUNCIL could save £3 million next year if some senior secondary teachers took up offers of early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

This scenario has been laid out in a report that also acknowledges a risk that Fife’s most experienced teachers might leave the profession.

The report, by senior education official Craig Munro, spells out difficulties faced in Fife since new national staffing plans and council budget cuts were introduced from 2003 to 2008. Fife was in an unsustainable position that had to be addressed urgently.

There was no ‘spend to save’ app-roach and no system to allow staff outwith established structures or on conserved salaries to take early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

“So headteachers had to make cuts in staffing in other areas. Some were able to do so more easily due to their staff’s age profile. Others could not and so some overspent their budget. The consequence was extreme variability across our secondary schools.”

Mr Munro listed steps already taken and said 50 promoted post holders accepted release terms in August. “Most were teachers nearing the end of their career on conserved salaries and were replaced with teachers paid the appropriate rate, so there was no reduction in teaching staff.

As a result, Fife has a higher number of new teachers appointed this year relative to other authorities.

The total number of promoted posts outwith structure now resolved is 58 full-time equivalent, equating to a saving of £750,000 a year. There had been constant consultation with trade unions, professional associations and secondary head teachers.

Looking ahead, Mr Munro said total efficiencies of £3 million could be realised if the project were extended to include all teachers in conserved posts or outwith structures.

“Overall savings could be higher as the figures have been calculated by assuming teachers and promoted staff outwith structure are replaced by teachers half way up the salary spine.

“Introducing more newly qualified teachers into Fife secondary schools would increase savings and create opportunities for promotion and employment in the profession,” he added.

But the report admits completing the project could carry significant difficulties and some promoted-post staff on lifetime conserved salaries are being paid more than the rate for the job sizing of their positions.

It added that a management of change policy had been agreed with the trade unions, and 58 staff in posts outwith structure or on conserved salaries have taken early retirement, voluntary redundancy or moved to a post in a school staffing structure.

While planning for the next stages of the project are under way, said the official, there were a number of remaining significant issues that the project team were proactively seeking to resolve in order to achieve the full level of efficiencies.