Highland parents have hit out at "stock" responses from the council and government to their campaign to save rural schools from a staffing crisis.
After lobbying Highland Council for years to change its staffing formula – which they say has "disproportionate impacts" on small, rural schools – parents at Farr, Gairloch, Kinlochbervie and Ullapool High Schools launched a national campaign to save their schools.
With less than 400 pupils between all four schools, the parents' open letter to Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner has gathered more than 600 signatures in less than a week.
Citing "immense pressure", "under-resourcing", and a staffing formula that they said is "getting it wrong for every rural child", the parents have spoken out to say that the "stock responses" they have received from leaders so far are not acceptable.
The Highland Council declined to comment for this story.
Seoras Burnett, Chair of Ullapool High School Parent Council, said that their open letter met with emotional responses from parents facing similar issues at other schools across the country.
Decision-makers need to respond in kind and start proposing solutions, she said.
“Raymond Bremner, the Highland Council Convenor, has replied to us highlighting what Highland Council is already doing but saying nothing about what the Council will do to respond to our demands.
"We’re still waiting to hear from Jenny Gilruth at the Scottish Government.
