Two Angus schools will continue to share a head teacher on a permanent basis — despite staff and parents voicing concerns.
Councillors on the children and learning committee confirmed the shared headship as a permanent appointment after the results of a formal consultation were disclosed.
The committee was told focus groups responded positively but this contrasted with the parent questionnaire where 60% were not in favour of the shared campus model at Webster’s High and Southmuir Primary in Kirriemuir while 67% of staff were also against the change in school leadership being made permanent.
However, only 27 families from a possible 921 responded to the questionnaire and the feedback rate was also low among staff with only 55 of 156 employees returning the questionnaire.
The questionnaire for pupils supported the views of the focus groups with 76% (136 children) of respondents in favour of the shared campus model continuing on a permanent basis.
Convener Sheena Welsh said the pupils were very happy with the arrangement and the head teacher was very keen to continue with the current arrangement.
She said the parent council was happy, the parents who came to the meetings were very happy and there had only been “a very small negative response”.
She recommended that a permanent appointment was made and her comments were echoed by Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor who said the children, staff and parents “all see the benefits of this”.
Councillors agreed to make the arrangement permanent at Webster’s and Southmuir which are both situated in a shared plot.
Webster’s has had two head teachers within the past ten years period while Southmuir has had three substantive head teachers and three acting head teachers.
In September 2015, the substantive head teacher, who had been in post at Southmuir for two years, successfully secured a post with another local authority.
Discussions were held with the outgoing head teacher at Southmuir and the current head teacher at Webster’s and it was felt that Webster’s and Southmuir might provide an opportunity for the development of a shared campus model.
The head teacher at Webster’s took on the temporary additional role of acting head teacher at Southmuir in October 2015 and will now continue in that campus headship role.
Pauline Stephen, Head of Schools and Learning, said: “The children and young people of Webster’s High School and Southmuir Primary School are largely in favour of making the joint campus a permanent arrangement.
“Staff and parents who responded to the survey, are less optimistic about this change although the data gathered from both groups was small.
“There is therefore no clear shared view about the future of the campus headship.”
The management structures within the acting Campus Headship model results in an overall saving of £5,214.
