Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands SNP MSP, Dave Thompson will attend a meeting of the Parent Council tonight at Gairloch High school. The meeting has been called to discuss the cuts in teaching staff at Gairloch High imposed by the Liberal, Labour and Independent coalition running Highland Council.

Mr Thompson has lent his support to the campaign being led by the Parent Council to reverse the cuts. The parent council has called for schools like Gairloch to be given a special rural weighting in the staffing formula used by Highland Council to determine the number of teachers at a school.

Commenting Dave said; "I fully support the Parent Council’s campaign to reverse these cuts, which have led to the loss of History and Business Studies courses at the school. I also agree with the argument that Highland Council should adopt a special formula when considering teacher numbers at small rural schools. Such a formula would take in to consideration the fact that schools like Gairloch have to provide services that, in more populous areas, would be accessible through joint working with neighbouring schools and colleges and local employers."