The leader of Aberdeenshire Council has accused his opponents of “peddling misinformation” over plans to axe specialist teachers in music, art and drama.
Education chiefs at the north-east authority have been criticised for trying to overhaul the region’s education system, with the council working to amalgamate visiting specialists – who cover schools across wide areas – into core staff.
An online petition from parents demanding the council reverse the policy has gathered more than 1,600 signatures.
Ditching specialist teachers ‘will set kids’ schooling back 40 years’
But last night, council leader Jim Gifford fired back at his political opponents, accusing them of scare-mongering.
He said: “The new Aberdeenshire Council administration has not axed anything, we have not stopped anything and have not changed anything that wasn’t already happening within the education service.”
The Conservative councillor argued that, although elected members set the direction of the council, officers implemented policy and, in this case, were simply changing the way subjects were taught.
He added: “We hope it goes without saying that the quality of our children’s education is of paramount importance.
“The way things were organised in the past meant that not all schools have benefited consistently from specialist provision.”
Mr Gifford also singled out independent Peterhead councillor Stephen Calder, a close ally of senior Labour opposition councillor Alison Evison, for writing a damning letter in the Press and Journal last week.
He claimed: “There has been weeks of mis-information peddled by a number of SNP and Labour councillors, but Stephen Calder’s letter really takes the biscuit.
“Councillor Calder and his SNP and Labour colleagues are great at throwing out these accusations – if he can provide one shred of evidence to back up his claims, he will start to have some credence.
“We will not be holding our breath waiting for that to happen.”
Last month, retired teacher Sheila Robertson, formerly head of performing arts at Meldrum Academy, said the scrapping of specialists would set the education of children back 40 years.
And last night, Mr Calder responded: “As an experienced teacher of 40 years, I sincerely believe that the decision to end the provision of visiting specialist teachers is a profoundly backward step which will have a negative effect on the pupils’ education.”
He called on the administration to rethink the change.
