All elected members of Kinross High School Parent Council abruptly resigned their positions this week after a major fallout with the school.
The now former group chair has accused management of “silencing the parent voice” and failing to “engage meaningfully” with the parent body over a number of issues they raised.
At the heart of the row is a questionnaire published last week which members believe only “pays lip service” to their concerns.
A lack of consultation over plans to restructure the Loch Leven Community Campus-based school and the appointment a new senior staff member also widened the rift between the parent council and faculty leaders.
Chair George Cobb, vice chairs Nicola Hearnden and Graham Cox, along with treasurer Lorraine Holdsworth all stepped down on Monday.
A scathing final letter by Mr Cobb read: “The reason for this is that we have reached a point that as the elected members of the parent body where we do not feel that we can effectively communicate with the senior leadership team of Kinross High School.
“The views of the parent body and thus are not effective at our primary objective which is to represent the Parent Forum of Kinross High School. The issues we have been facing have been growing in number and magnitude since the start of the 2022/23 session but it has now reached a critical point where decisive action needs to be taken.
“We have discussed possible ways forward but collectively agreed that the only way to effect real change is for the whole of the elected representative to stand down.”
It continues: “Furthermore, we have deep-rooted concerns about the lack of willingness of Kinross High School and the wider Scottish Education System to engage meaningfully with a parent body to effect real change.
“This is not to say that schools do not engage and indeed we and other parents have been asked for contributions but in such a mechanist, structured, and prescribed way that only the ‘answers’ that are wanted are ultimately received and thus nothing changes.”
The letter was sent to a number of council representatives including executive director of education and children’s services Sheena Devlin and Kinross-shire’s four ward councillors to identify replacements.
Cllr Willie Robertson said: “I was very sorry to learn of the resignation of the Kinross High School Parent Council. They were a dedicated and hard working committee.
“Myself and my fellow ward councillors have asked for a meeting with the Council’s head of Education and Children’s services Sheena Devlin to see what can be done to rescue the situation.
“It is important that the management within a school works in partnership with the parents of the children in that school. I will do my best to restore effective partnership working at Kinross.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson added: “We note the decision of the office bearers of Kinross High School Parent Council and thank them for their service to the school.
“Parent councils have a duty to ensure that the views they give us are truly representative of all parents/carers who form the wider parent forum. Together with Kinross High School’s senior management team, we will abide by the formal constitution of the parent council and support the process of electing new representatives to continue the work of the parent council.”
