Claims there is a lack of gender equality among those leading Fife’s secondary schools have sparked a war of words.
As reported in The Courier last week, Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, called for action to tackle what she described as a “simply unacceptable” gender gap across the region’s 19 high schools, with just 16% of Fife’s secondary headteachers being female compared with 40% nationally.
Despite that, Independent Councillor Bryan Poole – Fife Council’s education spokesperson – hit back.
“Under the previous administration of Fife Council, led by Jenny’s party – SNP – the five executive directors were all male,” he noted.
“In the four years of the current administration there are now two male and two female executive directors (one post has been deleted).
“Under the previous administration the three most senior posts in Education were all filled by males.
“Currently there are four ‘heads of education’ at Fife Council – two male and two female.
“Sitting below the heads of service are education officers – where we would expect to draw our future heads of service.
“Fife Council has significantly more female than male education officers.
“There have been seven appointments to secondary headteachers in the last four years – three of those have been female.
“Equally important, the number of women who have been promoted to deputy head and principal teacher positions — again where we would expect to draw our future headteachers from — has risen significantly.
“Of course we have some way to go but I’m sure any objective reader would agree that significant progress has been made — particularly in relation to the previous SNP-led administration.”
Mr Poole added that he felt it is “doubly disappointing” that Ms Gilruth highlighted the issue in the same week as thousands of pupils, teachers and headteachers returned to school after the best results ever achieved in Fife.
“I haven’t heard a peep of congratulations to our pupils for their achievements or a well done to our staff for their efforts from Jenny Gilruth,” he continued.
“Rather than offer her congratulations she chooses to play about with statistics and attack Fife Council.
“I would say to Jenny Gilruth instead of rushing to play party politics with education come and work with us at Fife Council. Put children before politics.”
For her part though, Ms Gilruth, who actually worked in Fife as a principal teacher, is steadfast in her stance.
“Frankly in 2016 it’s appalling that there are still schools in Fife that have never had a female headteacher,” she commented.
“Less posturing from Councillor Poole and more concrete suggestions to support female leadership development in Fife would be welcome.
“There is an issue of equity here – what exactly is happening at authority recruitment level when only 16% of secondary heads are female in comparison to 40% nationally?
“I raised this issue with the Cabinet Secretary in the chamber in June and I fully intend to engage with Fife Council to ensure they tackle this.
“An education system which encourages ambition and aspiration is pivotal to closing the attainment gap in Scotland and across the Kingdom — it’s disappointing though not surprising that Councillor Poole has seen fit to detract from that.”
