A SCOTTISH local authority struggling to find tens of millions of savings is considering closing schools on Mondays and introducing a four-day week for thousands of primary and secondary school pupils, it has emerged.
North Ayrshire councillors and unions were briefed on the plan, which would cause chaos for working parents, last week by managers, who have to find £38 million worth of savings annually over the next three years under Whitehall-imposed cuts.
Under the “strategic options” plan presented, managers suggested delaying the start of primary education until children are six years old, along with increasing all primary classes to 30 pupils to cut down on teaching bills.
Carol Kirk, the council’s education director, said local authorities elsewhere in Scotland are also considering delivering the 25 hours of weekly teaching required by law in one fewer day.
“No decisions have been taken on these options which are for exploration only at this stage. The options include examining ways in which the council might deliver the current education services in a more efficient and effective manner to allow the council to continue to develop early years provision and maintain high quality teaching and learning.
“The option for children to start primary school at age six has been widely discussed by education professionals across the UK for several years now and is already in operation in many other European countries,” said Ms Kirk.
If implemented, a four-day week would save the council more than £2 million, councillors were told.
Last week they rejected a proposal to save £130,000 by ending free school milk.
Under 35-year-old regulations, Scottish schools are required to be open for a minimum of 190 days.
GMB union official, Paul Arkison said North Ayrshire, has some of the poorest districts in Scotland within its boundaries.
