A parent says her child has been left “extremely distressed” at changes to S4 arrangements at Dalry School.
Sarah-jane Mackenzie’s daughter was due to continue her studies at the school after the summer – only for headteacher James Smith to issue a letter last Thursday with a “strong recommendation” for pupils to move to Castle Douglas High due to a lack of numbers.
Ms Mackenzie said: “She has been crying constantly as she is so upset. She wants to go to Dalry and I have concerns about her going to Castle Douglas.
“It was never in her mind to go to Castle Douglas, even in fifth and sixth year. The fact she has been told she has to go to Castle Douglas for S4 is extremely distressing to her.
“We feel forced out of the school because they have been dropping subjects.”
There had originally due to be nine pupils in S4 at Dalry after the summer holidays, however parents of three children made a late decision to move to Castle Douglas.
That led to a number of agreed subjects being dropped, prompting more parents to switch to Castle Douglas.
Helen Hamilton’s daughter is another pupil who was due to stay at Dalry after the holidays.
She said: “She wants to stay at Dalry but now what Mr Smith is talking about putting any children that stay there into the S3 class.
“I don’t want that so if the worst comes to the worst I’ll be sending her to Kirkcudbright Academy.
“I don’t feel like we can get the support we need sending her to Castle Douglas.”
Jan Burrows’ daughter was due to go into S4 but he opted to move her to Castle Douglas following subjects being ditched after the first three children dropped out.
He said: “We were faced with problems that she could no longer get a good, balanced education in Dalry.
“It forced me to make a decision against what I wanted to do as I support the local school and the community.
“I had to make the decision to let her go to Castle Douglas. Places and subjects were available – I felt like I was put under pressure to make a quick decision, which I now somewhat regret.
“I feel bad they now want to close the whole S4 year group.
“Mr Smith is making his decisions based on managing his resources to the best, he can’t justify small classes but personally I think he has to look at the bigger picture and the future of education in the Glenkens, we are a small school and classes will always have a small number of students in Dalry.”
