An 80-year-old school tradition has fallen foul of contemporary cuts at one of Dundee’s oldest schools.
Morgan Academy has found itself having to change its historic house system owing to a loss of senior staff, prompting expressions of regret from former pupils and current parents.
Since 1931 the school has divided its pupils into four houses Airlie, Cortachy, Glamis and Mains for scholastic and sporting contests.
A school magazine from that decade wrote, “The house system ought to have a good moral effect.
“It is training the citizens of the future to realise the value of corporate work by showing them that one slacker in a team or house jeopardises that body’s chances of success.”
The four-house system has remained in place until now, with keen competition between them, but head teacher Stephen Shaw has decided it can no longer be sustained and Glamis House will have to go.
A Dundee City Council education department spokesman said, “Following a review of the promoted post structure in Dundee secondary schools, Morgan Academy has decided to reshape its house system.
“This means that there will be three houses from the start of term in August, compared to the current four.
“Young people involved and their families, the parent council and former pupils’ association have all been informed about the change.”
As part of its budget cuts for 2011-12, the city council decided to change the rules for allocating deputy head teachers and guidance teachers to secondary schools.
The effect was to cut the number of deputy heads by 10 and the number of guidance teachers by 21 -saving an estimated £844,000 this year and a further £1.3 million next year.
Parent council secretary Kay Wilson said members had discussed the loss of Glamis House with Mr Shaw.
“At the end of the day it is not something anybody would have chosen, but we understand why it is happening.
“We all agreed it is very sad to be losing a house, but we are losing several members of staff too,” she added.