The independent school sector in Scotland is under pressure and it is resulting in the worsening of pay, pensions and conditions for teachers, according to the general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA).
Seamus Searson made his comments in response to a Tes Scotland investigation, which found that several independent schools are looking to shed teaching posts through voluntary redundancy - with compulsory redundancies looming if the numbers fail to add up - and that teachers’ terms and conditions are also under threat.
The attempt by Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow to remove its teachers from the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS) has been well reported, with EIS and NASUWT union members out on strike this week. However, participation in the scheme may be at risk in other independent schools.
The rector (headteacher) of the High School of Dundee, Lise Hudson, told Tes Scotland “it would be irresponsible to give cast-iron guarantees” that it would continue to offer the STPS “until the matter has been fully reviewed”, given employer contributions are expected to rise next year. She said the changes would have “a significant financial impact on all independent schools in Scotland who are part of the scheme”.
Teacher pay has traditionally been higher in the private sector but Tes Scotland understands that some schools have reduced the uplift they give their staff over and above state school scales, while others failed to fully implement the pay deal reached for Scottish state school teachers earlier this year.
Lomond School in Helensburgh has said it would honour the deal but has not provided its teachers with back pay; the school estimated this would cost £250,000 and told staff it could not afford this.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the school said: “In agreeing a 14.6 per cent pay increase for teachers and support staff, we’ve recognised the enormous and valuable contribution the entire team makes to the lives of pupils at Lomond School. Like every independent school, we have to balance the desire to reward staff with the significantly rising costs we are facing, and have taken a prudent and sensible approach.”
Independent schools say they are undertaking cost-cutting measures in response to “astronomical increases in utilities and other costs”; loss of earnings during the pandemic due to, for instance, boarding houses being closed; the removal of business rates relief; and significant rises in employer pension contributions. The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is also cited as a factor.
The SSTA said this was the first time it had seen such a raft of changes across the country to private school teachers’ terms and conditions.
Mr Searson said: “The independent school sector in Scotland is under pressure and this has resulted in the worsening of pay, pensions and conditions for teachers in this sector. I believe this is being influenced by the independent school sector in England, which has seen a steady erosion of teachers’ pay, pension and ‘sharp’ employment practices over several years.”
He added that “a continued attack on teachers’ pay and conditions could see the sector losing experienced teachers, who will find more security and a far better pension provision in the state sector”, and that some schools could start looking “to fill vacancies with unqualified teachers, which again would be a cheaper option”.
The Scottish Council for Independent Schools responded, saying that schools in Scotland were not influenced by England and that there were “no ‘sharp’ practices at work, only responsible budgeting in trying times”.
A spokesperson added that filling vacancies with unqualified teachers was “not only imaginary but also illegal” and that “no independent school would put an unskilled teacher in front of a class”.
The spokesperson added that the removal of rates relief in 2022 for independent schools - which the Barclay review into tax rates, published in 2017, estimated would save £5 million a year - had “restricted schools’ ability to act in partnership and yet done nothing to support education elsewhere”.
The spokesperson concluded: “Those with a genuine interest in promoting excellence in Scottish education should recognise that actions have consequences, and the removal of the VAT exemption on education threatens to swell student numbers in state schools and put teachers in the independent sector out of work.”
Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen has just completed a voluntary redundancy process, its head of college, Robin Macpherson, confirmed. He said the school had reformed its business model to be more financially sustainable in response to “economic and financial pressures across the country”.
When asked by Tes Scotland if he could now rule out compulsory redundancies, Mr Macpherson said: “It would be inappropriate to further disclose any ongoing confidential staff matters.”
Tes Scotland also understands that the introduction of a new leadership model at Robert Gordon’s College has led to a reduction in promoted posts and the uplift in salary - over and above state sector pay - offered by the school has reduced from 6 per cent to 3 per cent.
Mr Macpherson said the school had “restructured four departmental areas to improve both the leadership model and the quality of education across the school”. This has resulted in the creation of four new leadership roles in creative arts, languages, science and sport, “with remits that cover the full 3 to 18 age range, so that curriculum progression is smoother and that collaboration is stronger”.
Mr Macpherson said it was “a really exciting development” that would lead to “more opportunities for pupils, through a more joined-up approach”. He said that the school would “continue to offer the broadest curriculum of any school in the north-east of Scotland” and that its strong academic record would continue.
“I firmly believe that this is for the better to ensure that we future-proof the sustainability of one of the top independent schools in Scotland,” he added.
The High School of Dundee, meanwhile, is looking to shed 12 full-time-equivalent staff after an “efficiency review” of learning and teaching provision found the school to be overstaffed. To date, three members of staff have opted to take voluntary redundancy and will leave at the end of the school year, but compulsory redundancies will now follow for “a small number of teaching staff in departments which were identified as being overstaffed”, according to Ms Hudson.
She said decisions to cut staffing had not been taken lightly and were “not knee-jerk reactions”. Rather, they were “part of the forward-planning process which we, like other organisations, have to have in place”.
In common with all independent schools, she said, there were “a number of headwinds that we now face that are outwith our control”, including “unprecedented energy costs, business rates revaluation, inflation and the re-evaluation of the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme”.
Ms Hudson added: “Like all businesses, we have had to respond and make strategic plans to allow us to operate as efficiently as we can going forward.”
Some of the school’s departments had recently increased in size “in response to pupil preferences” and pastoral support had also increased “to ensure bespoke support” for pupils.
Ms Hudson concluded: “I want to emphasise that these efficiencies will not impact on the quality or breadth of learning experience that we offer our pupils. As a community, we are committed to continuing to create an environment built on our traditions and core values, which nurtures and inspires all our pupils to be themselves, find their talents and excel.”
St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow is also looking to cut its teacher numbers. Earlier this year, the school launched an enhanced voluntary severance scheme, which has since been extended. As of 31 March, Tes Scotland understands that eight staff in the junior school had taken voluntary severance, including three junior school teachers and one classroom assistant
Isabelle Cullen, chair of governors at St Aloysius’, said the school’s goal - “together with all Jesuit schools throughout the world” - was to “be as accessible as possible to families and young people, despite external financial factors, which include rising inflation rates, increased energy prices, and wage and pension inflation pressures”.
She said the school had spent the past 12 months developing “a plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of St Aloysius’ College”.
Dr Cullen added: “We appreciate that this is a time of uncertainty for some staff and we are indebted to them for their continuing commitment and professionalism as we navigate these challenges.
“St Aloysius’ College has been educating pupils since 1859. The board is taking action now to ensure that the college will continue to educate pupils for generations to come. We are fortunate to have the support of the Society of Jesus in this.”
