Parents at Ferryhill Primary School in the north of Edinburgh have threatened to take their children out of the school in protest as they claim the environment is "unsafe."
A motion heard at the Education committee today at Edinburgh City Council (June 6) stated that Police Scotland had been called to the school on several occasions due to reports of "violent" behaviour.
Problems have become so severe at the school that the parent council released a statement on June 5 asking for a "strike" day to take place to try to force change. Parents have said that their decision is in no way an attack on the school or its staff but rather an attempt to try to get help for the educational setting to deal with unruly behaviour.
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Some of the issues raised by the parent council include infant and nursery staff leaving the school grounds unattended; reports of children finding weapons such as poles, sledgehammers and hammers; incidents of fights breaking out between parents; physical and verbal violence between children and staff being targeted; there are also concerns of bullying, violence and racism.
In a statement released by the parent council, they said: “Ferryhill parent council is taking a proactive approach to address critical issues that have been identified within Ferryhill Primary School. We want to emphasise that our actions are in no way an attack on the school itself, but rather a sincere effort to secure the necessary assistance that our school desperately needs.
“Over the past months, concerns have been brought to our attention through various channels, and in some instances, witnessed or directly experienced by parents. It is with a deep sense of responsibility that we raise these concerns, fully acknowledging the impact they have on the welfare of our children, families, and staff. Some of the issues we have encountered include:
- Instances of infant and nursery children leaving the premises and school grounds unattended on more than one occasion.
- Reports of children finding dangerous weapons such as poles, sledgehammers, and hammers that were left unattended in the playground.
- Incidents of fighting between parents, as well as verbal and physical violence between children and directed towards staff.
- Fear and apprehension among children and parents, leading to reluctance in entering the playground due to concerns of bullying, violence, and racism.
- Witnessing aggression and violence aimed at teachers and support staff, leading to feelings of fear and anxiety in an environment that should be nurturing.
“We recently had a productive meeting with senior management from the education department within the council, during which we highlighted these concerns. While we appreciate their responsiveness and commitment to addressing the issues, we believe it is essential for parents to be fully aware of the reasons behind our actions.
“Our foremost priority is to support the dedicated staff members of Ferryhill Primary School, who are working tirelessly to overcome these challenges. The school has devised a plan to navigate through these issues, but we acknowledge that this is a complex process that requires time and effort.
“By garnering public awareness, we hope to generate the support needed to expedite the implementation of necessary measures. Furthermore, we aim to empower parents by providing them with a voice and encouraging their active participation in shaping the future of our school.
“Collaboration between parents, staff, and the community is paramount to fostering an improved educational experience for our children. Ferryhill Primary School serves as the heart of our community, and it is our shared goal to create a positive, welcoming, and safe environment for all children, families, and staff.
“We firmly believe that by addressing these concerns head-on and working together, we can restore and enhance the nurturing atmosphere that our school should embody.”
Councillor Louise Young brought forward the emergency motion at the Education Children and Families Committee, which called on the council to engage with parents and the school to put a plan in place to make the school a safer place for pupils, staff and parents. It is understood that the parent council called off their initial strike following this motion however they have kept the threat on the table if the issue does not improve.
Councillor Young tabled: “Committee notes with concern recent reports of violence and unsafe behaviour at Ferryhill primary school leading to repeated police attendance at the school. Further notes that these concerns have escalated to the extent that the parent council have released a statement on June 5 asking for a “strike” day to draw attention to these concerns.
“Therefore, calls for officers to urgently engage with the school leadership and parental representative at Ferryhill Primary School so that these issues do not continue into the new academic year. Requests a briefing note to be provided for ward councillors and committee members within two weeks detailing what steps have been taken to reduce tensions and tackle parental concern alongside a timeline on the reported incidents and actions taken up to this point.”
The council agreed to pass the motion and have committed to working alongside the school and parents to reduce tensions.
Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “We are determined to support the whole school community and their vision that learners are nurtured and achieve their full potential. The school have an action plan detailing improvements planned for the next session which will be communicated to parents. A major part of the school improvement plan will be around their Positive Relationships Policy and developing school values.
“The completely unacceptable behaviour of a few adults is having an enormous impact on the whole school community and the recent incidents will not be tolerated. The school have, and will, call the police if there are any incidents witnessed by staff and involving threatening or abusive behaviour towards any member of their school community.
“Ferryhill values kindness and respect and these ideals are instilled in their pupils and extended to all members of their community so it’s really important everyone works together to drive forward positive change for the future.”
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