Teachers have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against a £600,000 cost-cutting scheme to slash senior teacher posts in five schools in West Dunbartonshire – and could soon hold a one-day strike.

The plans involve removing deputy heads teachers from four schools – including Our Lady and St Patrick’s in Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Academy in Alexandria – reducing department heads as subjects are grouped into faculties, and cutting pastoral care posts.

The EIS teaching union claims the scheme will have “a serious detrimental affect on teaching and learning” but West Dunbartonshire Council claims its plans will ‘improve attainment’ in schools.

An indicative ballot for industrial action against the proposals resulted in a 87.5 per cent vote in favour. A total of 71.3 per cent of those eligible voted in the ballot.

The next step is holding a formal ballot to which the EIS National Executive Committee has given its full support and which local EIS reps say “is likely to lead to industrial action in secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire”.

West Dunbartonshire EIS representatives Mick Dolan and Jim Halfpenny said in a joint statement: “Nationally, the EIS has not taken industrial action since 1986 and teachers in West Dunbartonshire have never taken such independent action.

“This clearly shows the gravity of the situation which this council attempts to inflict upon education provision.

 “Our union has a track record of cooperating with management in restructuring where we see this as improving provision. However, in our view these proposals will damage the service we provide.”

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokeswoman said there would be no reduction in teacher numbers due to the restructure and the new set up would be similar to what already exists in ‘most councils across Scotland’.

She added: “In total 93 per cent of teachers will not be affected at all, and those who are will have their pay protected for three years and be able to apply for any promotions that emerge in that period and beyond.

“The new structure was developed in close consultation with the five secondary head teachers and then shared with the trade unions for consultation. We have met with both the EIS and the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association and although they have stated their opposition, no alternative proposals have been put forward.

“The changes to our secondary education structures will support our continuing ambition to improve attainment in West Dunbartonshire, along with all our other major initiatives.”