Greenock Telegraph | Opinion | Outrage at school comment

Friday, 29th August, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 16:30

Outrage at school comment

I FEEL I have to write in after reading the story in the Telegraph headlined ‘School placement row’ on Thursday 8 May.

Council leader Stephen McCabe’s comments that ‘parents might think it is a life-or-death decision’ absolutely infuriated me. How dare he! I for one do not think it is ‘a life-or-death’ decision.

How can education bosses claim that by allowing a few extra pupils, the school would need to be extended and employ an extra teacher? It beggars belief.

The intake was slashed from 160 last year to 80 this year. The school is the same size as it was last year and there are the same amount of teachers, with double the intake last year.

The intake was cut so, when it joins Gourock High, there will be 180 in the year group. Gourock High has 15 places which haven’t been taken, so to give these places to siblings of pupils already in Greenock Academy would not affect the numbers at the new school.

I noted your article ended saying councillors agreed to increase the capping limit at Inverclyde Academy — how convenient when it suits them.

Allowing siblings into Greenock Academy would not need any increase.

Councillor Stephen McCabe should stop harping on about ‘emotional blackmail’ and admit that there is no good reason why this handful of children cannot attend the same school as their siblings.

ANGRY PARENT

(Name and address supplied)

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