Fears were raised over potential cuts to primary school teaching staff after education chief Terry Lanagan told a meeting of the West Dunbartonshire Parents council two weeks ago that proposed savings in the education budget could not be made without affecting teacher numbers.

Mr Lanagan, the council’s Education Services executive director, also explained that any time taken from teachers as part of proposed education budget cuts would be from ‘McCrone time’ or ‘Golden time’ in classes. McCrone time often involves other teachers with special skills taking an hour of class time to teach children a specialist subject, such as art or languages, giving the class teacher time to organise or mark work.

The council says the hours cut would properly align teacher’s contracts with the school day – however this has raised fresh concerns teaching staffing numbers would be cut. This week, a council spokeswoman said: “This proposal would allow the council to fully deliver the current curriculum and could be achieved in many instances by reducing golden time or school assemblies.

“If approved, the proposal would lead to a reduction in the number of primary teachers required by the council to deliver the pupil week, and could be achieved by moving existing teachers to those schools where a teacher has left the authority.” However, with a number of schools in the authority closing or merging, there is concern over whether the all the teachers potentially redeployed would be able to find work in the area.

SNP Councillor for Kilpatrick Jim Finn told the Reporter: “At this stage no one can really comment, they are still proposals and not confirmed. I think these proposals are meant to worry people, and then when the cuts do come and they’re not as drastic, people won’t be as angry. I think it is a bit of smoke and mirrors. I’m totally against cuts to schools, I don’t know how they would plan to redeploy teachers if they don’t have any jobs for them.” The proposed move was heavily opposed in the public consultation and by West Dunbartonshire Parents Council.

Parents raised concerns the standard of education received in West Dunbartonshire schools couldn’t be maintained or improved by cutting hours and teachers from schools.

A spokesman for teaching union Education Institute of Scotland has also opposed the move, added: “It is unbelievable West Dunbartonshire Council will attack young kids.

“If the teachers take a day’s strike we are castigated.

“Mr Lanagan is saying it’s okay to lose 19 days for young kids education.”