HIGH school teachers involved in ongoing industrial action will decide this week whether to bring it to an end or not.

Staff at high schools in Dumbarton and the Vale have already staged four strike actions this year over six days but any further cation will be prevented if the teachers accept moves for a settlement agreed by West Dunbartonshire Council and trade union representatives last week.

Following discussions between teachers union EIS and education bosses at West Dunbartonshire Council an agreement in principle was reached to bring an end to the dispute.

Teachers who are members of the EIS will be balloted from today (Tuesday) to ascertain if the terms of the agreement are acceptable.

The agreement if accepted by teachers will see a new Curriculum Leadership structure introduced based upon the key role of subject principal teachers.

Teachers at high schools in West Dunbartonshire including Dumbarton Academy, Our Lady and St Patrick's High and Vale of Leven Academy staged the first strike action by teachers in the area for 30 years in January, they subsequently followed that one-day action up by a further day's strike in February and have since staged a further two two-day strikes.

The industrial action was sparked by a council decision to introduce faculties into high schools in the local authority area. Education chiefs proposed to restructure staffing, which would see depute heads removed from four of the five high schools in West Dunbartonshire and the number of principal teachers slashed as different subjects are grouped into new faculties with a single senior post. The original proposed shake-up has been estimated to save the council £600,000.

The result of the ballot on the new proposals should be announced on Thursday evening

Jim Halfpenny, joint secretary of the EIS in Dumbarton, said: "Management said they were looking for a new model. The agreement is that there will be curricular departments but the important role of principal teachers will now be the mainstay. We are satisfied that we have an agreement that will suit our teachers and management."

Laura Mason, West Dunbartonshire Council's chief education officer, said: “I’m pleased we now have a proposal which takes account of the concerns raised on behalf of teachers, and will enable us to move forward together for our young people.

“Our teachers are fully committed to their roles and ensuring our young people attain and achieve, and I hope this proposal will allow us to resolve the dispute for the benefit of the young people of West Dunbartonshire.”

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: "EIS Members have shown a strong commitment throughout this campaign to achieve a model which will continue to deliver a high quality education to West Dunbartonshire pupils. These proposals will facilitate that. We are hopeful the proposal will be endorsed by our members who will be keen to get back to teaching and learning across West Dunbartonshire schools."