Staffing in Staffin
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:11 pm
Litir a tha dol mu thimchioll an-dràsta bho pharatan Stafainn gu Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd
Mrs Catherine Matheson
Staffin Parent Council
Staffin
IV51 9JY
24th May 2011
Dear Mr Fraser
Staffing arrangements – Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye.
At our parent council meeting this afternoon very strong feelings and grave concerns were expressed at the proposed teacher/pupil ratios that will be in place at Staffin Primary School from August 2011. Our projected school role would mean that we will lose 0.5 FTE of a teacher in the Gaelic Medium Unit, and 17 pupils will be taught in the Gaelic Medium composite class consisting of pupils from P1 to P7.
We refuse to accept this proposal for the following reasons.
1. Highland Council has a policy for total immersion in Gaelic Medium Education as per Government guidelines and a composite class of pupils from P1 to P7 makes this impossible. Older pupils have to, as outlined in the curriculum, cover a lot more learning in English, which in turn makes it impossible to maintain a truly ‘Gaelic’ environment. The Council’s policy document on Gaelic Medium Education, Gaelic Medium Education and Early years strategy back’s this view by stating clearly, ‘The principle of total immersion in Gaelic should be applied to the fullest degree possible in a dual language school.’, at the early stages this immersion is vital. The Gaelic 5-14 Guidelines advise that ‘in the case of children entering a Gaelic-medium unit at Primary 1 who are not fluent Gaelic speakers, the main emphasis in the first two years will be on gaining oral competence in Gaelic. (Scottish Office Education Department, 1993, P7)
2. Our children’s education will be compromised across the board as they will not be able to develop the necessary language skills to enable them to properly access the curriculum and achieve their potential to the required level.
3. When we enrolled our children in the Gaelic Medium Unit in was on the basis that they would be educated in a totally Gaelic Environment. To change this situation totally compromises the quality of their education and this is not acceptable to us. If Highland Council was to adhere to the total immersion policy then neither would it be acceptable to the Council.
4. 17 pupils will be in the class, a number very near to the upper limit which was changed from 16 to 20 AFTER most of the Staffin parents enrolled their children at the school. Surely this is a factor the council must take into account.
5. Staffin is an area widely recognised, by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comann na Gàidhlig and all other Gaelic Development organisations, as a Gaelic heartland, and surely for that reason alone, special provision has to be made to ensure the children living in this area have a continued education in Gaelic which is at the highest standard. The council’s own policy document ‘Gaelic Education and Early years strategy’ states, “ While all Gaelic education is important, Gaelic medium education is seen as the best hope for the survival of Gaelic and therefore remains the main priority.” If the council believes that this is the case than how can the weakening of the Gaelic Education in a vital area even be considered?
6. The council recently moved have the status of the school changed to a Gaelic school, a decision that must surely be seen as laughable considering the subsequent decision to greatly weaken the Gaelic education at the school.
7. Our school is vital to the survival of our fragile community and there are strong concerns that pupils may be withdrawn from the school as a direct result of this short sighted proposal which could ultimately lead to the closure of the school.
As a parent council we have seen the level of Gaelic reduced greatly over the past few years. At present the visiting CCR teacher is teaching in English, as has been the case since September last year, and all other visiting teachers also teach through the English Language. Can this truly be called Gaelic Medium Education? As a parent council we don’t think it can and we are not prepared to accept a reduction in the teaching allocation. We would like a response to our concerns in writing by the 14th of June 2011 and propose further action to highlight this issue pending your response.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C Matheson,
Chairperson, Staffin Primary School Parent Council.
Mrs Catherine Matheson
Staffin Parent Council
Staffin
IV51 9JY
24th May 2011
Dear Mr Fraser
Staffing arrangements – Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye.
At our parent council meeting this afternoon very strong feelings and grave concerns were expressed at the proposed teacher/pupil ratios that will be in place at Staffin Primary School from August 2011. Our projected school role would mean that we will lose 0.5 FTE of a teacher in the Gaelic Medium Unit, and 17 pupils will be taught in the Gaelic Medium composite class consisting of pupils from P1 to P7.
We refuse to accept this proposal for the following reasons.
1. Highland Council has a policy for total immersion in Gaelic Medium Education as per Government guidelines and a composite class of pupils from P1 to P7 makes this impossible. Older pupils have to, as outlined in the curriculum, cover a lot more learning in English, which in turn makes it impossible to maintain a truly ‘Gaelic’ environment. The Council’s policy document on Gaelic Medium Education, Gaelic Medium Education and Early years strategy back’s this view by stating clearly, ‘The principle of total immersion in Gaelic should be applied to the fullest degree possible in a dual language school.’, at the early stages this immersion is vital. The Gaelic 5-14 Guidelines advise that ‘in the case of children entering a Gaelic-medium unit at Primary 1 who are not fluent Gaelic speakers, the main emphasis in the first two years will be on gaining oral competence in Gaelic. (Scottish Office Education Department, 1993, P7)
2. Our children’s education will be compromised across the board as they will not be able to develop the necessary language skills to enable them to properly access the curriculum and achieve their potential to the required level.
3. When we enrolled our children in the Gaelic Medium Unit in was on the basis that they would be educated in a totally Gaelic Environment. To change this situation totally compromises the quality of their education and this is not acceptable to us. If Highland Council was to adhere to the total immersion policy then neither would it be acceptable to the Council.
4. 17 pupils will be in the class, a number very near to the upper limit which was changed from 16 to 20 AFTER most of the Staffin parents enrolled their children at the school. Surely this is a factor the council must take into account.
5. Staffin is an area widely recognised, by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comann na Gàidhlig and all other Gaelic Development organisations, as a Gaelic heartland, and surely for that reason alone, special provision has to be made to ensure the children living in this area have a continued education in Gaelic which is at the highest standard. The council’s own policy document ‘Gaelic Education and Early years strategy’ states, “ While all Gaelic education is important, Gaelic medium education is seen as the best hope for the survival of Gaelic and therefore remains the main priority.” If the council believes that this is the case than how can the weakening of the Gaelic Education in a vital area even be considered?
6. The council recently moved have the status of the school changed to a Gaelic school, a decision that must surely be seen as laughable considering the subsequent decision to greatly weaken the Gaelic education at the school.
7. Our school is vital to the survival of our fragile community and there are strong concerns that pupils may be withdrawn from the school as a direct result of this short sighted proposal which could ultimately lead to the closure of the school.
As a parent council we have seen the level of Gaelic reduced greatly over the past few years. At present the visiting CCR teacher is teaching in English, as has been the case since September last year, and all other visiting teachers also teach through the English Language. Can this truly be called Gaelic Medium Education? As a parent council we don’t think it can and we are not prepared to accept a reduction in the teaching allocation. We would like a response to our concerns in writing by the 14th of June 2011 and propose further action to highlight this issue pending your response.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C Matheson,
Chairperson, Staffin Primary School Parent Council.
