Dundee Labour group leader Kevin Keenan says education convener Councillor Stewart Hunter is “in denial” over the health of his department after three schools in their Strathmartine ward area were given “less than favourable” reports.
Mr Keenan has accused the SNP councillor of “spin” after seeming to suggest that a “weak score” in an HMI(e) report is the “new excellent.”
The Labour councillor, who is himself a former education convener said: “I think the education convener and fellow ward councillor, Stewart Hunter, is in denial about the health of the education department.
“Each and every member of staff within the department deserves our praise and thanks for the efforts they are putting in to hold the education service together for our pupils here in Dundee.
“For some time, I have been saying that the cracks are beginning to show and the recent Ardler Primary School HMI(e) report only strengthens my viewpoint.
“The response given by staff to the question from the HMI(e) Inspectorate when asked about their school Support for pupils with additional support needs is effective?, resulted in 50% of staff disagreeing with this statement in relation to Ardler Primary School.
“I very much doubt whether this would have happened before these cuts were taken. The convener must see this as a cry for help from the staff and time for positive intervention and support from the council.
“When it comes to the cracks showing within the education service, there are now three schools in the Strathmartine Ward where Councillor Hunter is an elected representative and all have had less than favourable HMI(e) Reports.
“These are St Andrew’s, St Paul’s and now Ardler.”
Councillor Hunter completely refuted Mr Keenan’s claims, saying it was he who was “trying to spin” a section of the report to talk the school down.
He said: “It is quite clear that Councillor Keenan has not taken the time to actually read the report or, indeed, speak to the education department.
“If he had he would have noticed that this is in the main a very positive report. Ardler is an excellent school with an excellent head teacher and staff. Feedback from parents since the report was published have been very positive.
“The report gave the school three goods, four satisfactory and only one weak. While we are working on the issues raised I think it would be misleading to even attempt to describe Ardler Primary School in a negative light.”