Sir, – Reading the allegations about Perth High School in the press has caused anger and upset among staff and pupils who cannot understand the motivation behind such actions.
I would like to assure parents that all incidents are taken seriously and are dealt with in line with Perth and Kinross Council protocols. Our priority is to work closely with pupils, staff and parents who are directly involved to ensure a positive way forward for all concerned.
We have been reviewing our behaviour management policy which is based on the Perth High School Charter. This charter was based on the views and opinions of pupils, parents and staff.
As part of this evaluation, the senior management team, teaching and non-teaching staff are all working together to ensure that it meets the needs of all involved.
The new positive behaviour policy will be implemented next term.
I am always happy to meet with any pupil, parent or member of staff that wishes to raise specific questions about the school.
We acknowledge that there have been some issues relating to long-term staff absence and difficulties sourcing subject-specialist supply staff. There are challenges in recruiting teachers across the country and this is not a situation which is unique to Perth High School.
We are, however, working diligently to implement contingency arrangements to ensure the continuity of learning.
We recognise the challenges for staff within this and are working as a team to support each other to deal with any difficulties arising from this.
Mrs Thirza Pupillo.
Headteacher,
Perth High School.
Common market in UK
Sir, – I see Nicola Sturgeon pledges to boost trade with Bavaria and intends to strengthen economic cooperation via a joint declaration. It is beyond her domestic remit but fair enough maybe.
This is just as Ms Sturgeon intends to write to Theresa May to seek Westminster’s permission, via a section 30 order, to attempt to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK, and ultimately erect a trade barrier between us.
The nationalist leader enthuses that “Scotland and Bavaria have much in common”.
That would be more than Scotland has in common with the rest of the UK then Ms Sturgeon?
Martin Redfern.
4 Royal Circus,
Edinburgh.
Questions on separation
Sir, – May I ask for a few answers from the Scottish Government before we are embroiled in another referendum?
I may have missed these questions being answered before and, if so, I apologise.
How many billions of pounds of the current national debt will an independent Scotland be liable for?
Where is the money for our own military forces?
How many more police officers will we require if an independent Scotland is going to have an open-door policy on immigration?
I think most people will want reassurance on our security services after the horrendous occurrence in London.
Given the fact that most of our rail services are foreign owned, or will be if we are independent, where is the money coming from to safeguard this mode of transport ?
The roads in Scotland, like most of the British Isles are a disgrace. After independence what would the average Scottish car owner be paying in road tax to cover road repairs?
Last but not least, where is the money coming from to support a Scottish health service with an ageing population and an open-door policy on immigration?
Bill Duthie.
25 St Fillans Road,
Dundee.
Community needs facilities
Sir, – I write with reference to your article about the planning permission for flats to be developed in the old Hill Primary School, Blairgowrie.
This gave the impression that the Ericht Trust was unable to buy the buildings.
The Ericht Trust was in a position to buy the buildings supported by a grant from Scottish and Southern Energy.
The trustees spent four years and more than 2,000 hours of voluntary work, to say nothing of the pro bono work done by professionals who believed in our project.
The trust also spent over £60,000 on surveys, business plans and valuation reports as well as legal fees to be ready to submit an offer to buy the school.
The offer was submitted in Scottish legal terms, accompanied by 30 or more documents in support of the bid on June 10 2015.
It was a great pity that our bid came too early before the Community Empowerment Act came in to force (January 2017) otherwise things would have looked very different today.
Unfortunately, the estates committee decided on a vote of three to two to give Corryard the preferred-bidder status.
They chose housing over the plans for a cultural and heritage centre.
The town still needs these facilities planned for the school as was demonstrated in the charrette run last year.
The Ericht Trust and this community were extremely disappointed that Perth and Kinross Council chose a housing development over community aspirations.
Dr Jessie MA Shaw.
Trustee,
The Ericht Trust,
Blairgowrie.
Why no IRA apology?
Sir, – Since the death of Martin McGuinness last week, I have been appalled at the outpouring of goodwill towards this man.
Yes, in his later years he had become a man of peace and tried to make his mark as such a person and he was seen by many as a “good guy” and a man of integrity.
He had so much integrity that he never revealed that he was a member of the IRA until he was hauled before the Bloody Sunday inquiry where he was finally cornered into admitting this fact and that on that day he was actually in Londonderry as the leader of an active unit and that he carried a sub machine gun on that day.
Within a short time he was indeed the IRA boss who gave the rubber stamp to all the IRA atrocities committed by this murderous bunch of misfits under the banner of a united Ireland.
When I served in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s it was common knowledge that you did not become a commander of the IRA unless you had personally killed quite a few people.
I come back to the word integrity used in connection with Martin McGuinness.
Had this man had the slightest hint of integrity then when he became this man of peace he would have assisted the team trying to find The Missing, the hidden bodies of the hundreds of people murdered by IRA thugs over the many years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Not once did a single word of regret or apology for his personal involvement in many, many IRA atrocities cross his lips.
Rab Gilbert.
6 Gordon Park,
Kirriemuir.