TEN YEARS AGO
Saturday March 13 2014
Don’t leave our kids in the lurch
Worried parents in south Lochaber have issued a plea to council education chiefs ahead of the departure of a successful secondary school head teacher.
It comes as officials weigh up the possibility of introducing a novel ‘3-18 campus’ model for Kinlochleven High School and its neighbouring primary, which would see one head teacher appointed to manage both schools.
Popular head John McGilp is to leave Kinlochleven High after seven years in charge, apart from a short spell on secondment as acting head in Thurso, and a total of 15 years in secondary education in Lochaber.
The 39-year-old, who, at 33, became Scotland’s youngest head teacher when he took up the Kinlochleven post in 2007, is moving to become head of Coltness High School in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.
But his departure has raised concerns among parents who have called on the council to avoid a repeat of the ‘shambles’ they say was inflicted on the school when Mr McGilp was controversially transferred to Caithness in October 2012.
The local authority was accused of ‘abandoning’ the school after chemistry teacher Gordon Milne was left to juggle acting head teacher duties with teaching his subject and recruiting temporary staff to fill other positions.
According to the school’s parent council, fears raised among some parents that children’s future career prospects might be harmed proved to be spot-on.
With another crucial SQA exam season just around the corner, parent council chairman Stewart Borland said it was vital the council acted quickly to ensure as smooth a transition as possible at the school after the Easter holidays.
He said: "The shambles of last time cannot be repeated. Children were left, in some instances, with poorer results due to lack of teaching staff.
"They were left without the grades that guaranteed university places, and they were left without the normal appeals process because it was down to no teaching staff, which is unbelievably not covered in the rules of appeal.
"If Gordon Milne is to step up again we would need rock solid guarantees that Highland Council would back-stop chemistry and computing and the deputy head role this time."
A spokeswoman for the council’s education department said the council would be looking to secure Mr McGilp’s replacement as soon as possible.
At a meeting last week, area education manager Norma Young, responding to a question from Mr Borland, vowed to look at the possibility of Kinlochleven getting a secondment to cover the head teacher’s role.
The meeting had been called to discuss the option of a 3–18 campus for Kinlochleven, which would be the first of its kind in Lochaber.
It would see one head teacher appointed to run both schools. As Kinlochleven primary school head teacher Cheryl Allan is due to retire this year, the new model is being given careful consideration by education officials and received a generally positive response from parents of both schools at separate meetings chaired by Mrs Young last week.
A consultation is to be carried out on the proposal and a further parents’ meeting will be held at the end of March.
Mr Borland said: "From what I gather primary parents were left slightly concerned that they might get a kind of ‘second best’ service and they have asked for additional details of the plan.
"Secondary parents reaction seemed much more favourable, with their main concern being that this consultation would slow down the all important recruitment process to find a replacement for John McGilp.
"I reckon a higher salary for the joint campus head teacher would see more applications for this post in comparison to previous application numbers for the post of head teacher of the secondary.
"They may well have problems recruiting for a primary head teacher as they are like hen’s teeth."
The chairman added the new campus model would allow resources to be shared between the schools more effectively and cost efficiently, for example computers and PE facilities.
"It might also create a better transition between primary and secondary school for the pupils."
"Local Highland councillor Andrew Baxter said that, while he was keen to find out much more about the 3-18 campus proposal, it could be the way forward for Kinlochleven.
"However, it must not distract from the crucial issue of getting the right arrangements in place at the high school to avoid the disruption the school, pupils and parents went through last time round."
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday March 13 1999
Nurse’s home saved
Representations made by Dr Michael Foxley, Ardnamurchan, have been instrumental in securing the future for the nurse’s house in Kilchoan.
With the backing of the West Ardnamurchan Community Council, Councillor Foxley took up the case in opposing the proposed sale of the house by the Highland Communities NHS Trust to the highest bidder on the open market.
Amid fears that the nurse’s house would become ‘yet another holiday home’ Councillor Foxley asked the trust to set back the closing date for two weeks so that a bid could be lodged by Lochaber Housing Association.
"They kindly agreed to do this,’ he said, ‘and a formal offer was put in by the association."
Subsequently Dr Foxley contacted Health Minister, Sam Galbraith and Housing Minister, Calum MacDonald, to highlight "the folly of losing a key local property."
Mr Galbraith agreed to review the NHS property sales policy and to defer any decision about the Kilchoan house till that review was complete.
Now, as a result, Sam Galbraith - and Michael Foxley - have ensured that the house is being sold to the association.
Councillor Foxley said this week: "I’m delighted with the news. We would all have been dismayed and angry if it was allowed to become yet another holiday home."
SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday March 12 1949
Saint Mary’s men’s social club
The above club, offshoot of the youth club, although still in its infancy, held a most successful social evening in the R.C. School on Friday.
A programme of song, accordion solos, violin selections, and games was enjoyed by all, as was also the delightful tea provided.
Shinty
On Saturday last, despite adverse weather conditions, the Fort William Juvenile Club had a friendly encounter with the Kingussie Cadet Team.
Although much the heavier team, the visitors did not have all their own way and were lucky to be in the lead at half-time.
Outstanding for the home team were I. Blake and W. MacLean, while indeed all worked hard on a pitch more like a quagmire than a shinty field.
The final score 2-2 was a fair result.
Farmers ball
Mr F.S Cameron-Head presided over the annual dinner and ball held by Lochaber farmers in the Grand Hotel on Friday last, and this proved to be one of the most delightful functions of the season.
With Mr. Cameron-Head were Mr J. W. Hobbs and Mr Donald Cameron, late of Achintee, and Mr C. W. S. Steek, of the Lochaber Farmers’ Livestock Marts.
Mr Cameron-Head, in the course of an amusing and witty speech, spoke of the pleasure of all those present in seeing Mr Cameron back again in his native Lochaber, and he also extended a welcome to the company present.
The dinner concluded, Mr Cameron-Head, in the course of an amusing and witty speech, spoke of the pleasure of all those present in seeing Mr Cameron.
The dinner concluded, the company adjourned to the lounge, where Miss Ann MacKintosh, Nether Lochaber, lead community singing.
Mr Cameron-Head and Miss M. Cameron led the Grand March into the ballroom, where, to the music of the Fort Augustus Band, the company settled down to enjoy the dancing. Mr Dougald Irvine acted as M.C.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday March 15 1924
Town Council
Provost Stewart presided over the monthly meeting.
The collector of rates was instructed to issue a final notice to those in Burgh assessments, and after the expiry of 10 days to obtain a distraint warrant on the assessment roll for recovery.
It was also decided to get the fire hydrant plates throughout the Burhh renewed, and also to accept an offer for the erection of a fire hose box on the front wall of the town hall.
On the application of Mr W Pringle, Strathmore, the Council, on certain conditions, consented to the erection of a wireless aerial stretching from the applicant’s house to the drill hall.
On the motion of ex Provost Shaw, it was agreed to approach the L&NE Railway Company with a view to securing an improvement in the train service for the summer months, and to suggest that four trains be given to and from Fort William daily.
The clerk was also instructed to communicate with Mrs D McBrayne Limited, urgently that a daily steamer service should be given between Oban and Fort William in June.
Ex Provost Shaw again raised the question as to the improvement and repair of the Ben Nevis Road and bridges, and the Clerk was asked to write to the President of the Merchants Association suggesting that the joint committee appointed some time ago should meet within the next few days in order to take whatever action may be decided upon.
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