An angry father has hit out at education bosses claiming his 11-year-old son still struggles to read or write.
Lorry driver Richard McGhee raised concerns about the support available, and the curriculum taught, to 11-year-old son Lewis who attends Alehousewells School.
He said that the family must shell out £200 a month in private tuition for his son, who has a chromosome related condition, to improve his literacy before he moves up to Kemnay Academy this year.
In December it was revealed that just 17% of third year secondary pupils in Aberdeenshire are meeting the literacy curriculum for excellence standard.
Aberdeenshire West Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett said: “Quite simply, our schools in Aberdeenshire are under enormous pressure due to SNP budget cuts from Holyrood.
“This individual case is just one example, but it is clear there are huge challenges locally.
“Teachers and support staff are doing a fantastic job, but they must be properly resourced.”
Mr McGhee believes that the current curriculum doesn’t prioritise basic skills in the same way reading and writing is taught south of the border.
He added: “I’m not criticising the school who do a great job. I just think there should be more emphasis on learning the basics to prepare kids for going onto secondary education.
“It is really important he can read and write but, I would say, not so much that he knows art and about religions.
“He is supposed to be going to the academy but he can’t read or write and I’m so worried about what will happen to him when he moves on.
“I don’t think there has been enough support for him. He needs to be taught the fundamentals of reading and writing.
“My nieces and nephews are educated in England and I know they get a better education.”
Aberdeenshire Council said the local authority could not discuss the young boy’s individual case.
A council spokesman said: “While we cannot comment on the circumstances of individuals, we provide a wide range of tailored support to pupils who have particular needs.
“Typically, this can include the development of individualised education plans, input from our education psychology team and several hours a week of specialist one-to-one support.
“All support is developed in line with Aberdeenshire Council policy and guidelines working together with health and education professionals and our priority is to best meet the needs of the child. The associated costs are a secondary consideration.”
And the Scottish Government stressed that all children and young pupil should be given the support they need to reach their “full potential”.
A spokeswoman said: “Education authorities are responsible for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of their pupils, including providing appropriate resources, including teaching and support staff, to meet children’s needs.
“Literacy, along with numeracy, health and wellbeing, are the educational priorities across Scotland and present in all aspects of curriculum for excellence.”
