A Fife school among the worst hit by budget cuts is preparing to make even more savings.
Madras College was forced to rearrange the school day to cope with the loss of £266,000 from its budget this year.
It lost three administration staff members and a dozen teachers lost a portion of their salaries in a job-sizing exercise for promoted posts.
The St Andrews secondary school could be required to cut spending by a further £75,000 in the near future.
Madras College, Bell Baxter High School, Balwearie High School and Inverkeithing High School were hit with the most severe cuts when £1.28 million was slashed from school budgets by Fife Council.
North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie said Madras College would be punished again and urged the local authority against curbing spending further.
He said: “Madras and Bell Baxter already faced disproportionate cuts to their budgets over the last couple of years.
“Additional cuts on top of these will put further pressure on the ability of schools to perform.
“I would encourage the SNP/Labour-run Fife Council to think again rather than piling ever deeper cuts on schools we know have lost staff.
“They have tried to cope with the cuts the best they can and it’s unfair that Madras is punished again.”
Since June, Madras College has shortened the school day, rationalising teaching units to 60 minutes, and each teacher has taken on an additional session.
It is understood the further £75,000 reduction is being managed by the school and the rector has identified a further £70,000 which could be saved if necessary.
Shelagh McLean, head of the council’s education service, said: “This is not a new saving, but year two of a two-year saving. This has been planned for by the school.
“Madras College has reviewed the school week and the management structure, as have a number of our schools.
“By making changes to the length of the school day, our schools are managing to make timetable changes which help them better manage learning and teaching whilst further developing appropriate 15-24 learning pathways in partnership with Fife College and others.
“Any changes proposed at a local level will adhere to legislative and policy requirements.
“Our secondary schools routinely review and improve their processes and timetables are changed annually to reflect pupil choices.”
