“For some authorities, there has been a dramatic collapse in confidence: only half the boards in Fife and Dundee and 52 per cent in Moray want schools run by authorities”.

To say that I am confused by the way the Scottish School Board Association has reported the results is an understatement. Dundee City Council operates 52 schools that are eligible to have school boards. Of these, only 12 have opted to become members of the SSBA.

On contacting the SSBA, we were told that the return from Dundee had been “seven or eight”. Even if all of these boards expressed unhappiness with the present situation, it would still be far less than the “half the boards in Dundee” claimed in the article.

While I am concerned if even a small number of boards in Dundee are expressing dissatisfaction, I feel that the validity of this report is brought into question by the way the figures have been reported.

We in Dundee are working hard to improve the consultation we have with the wider parent body, and boards in particular. With my convener and vice-convener of education and my senior management team, I meet regularly with school board chairpersons and parent representatives to discuss educational issues raised by ourselves and by parent representatives.

I also attend school board meetings when invited, and I am about to complete a series of 21 meetings with parent representatives informally consulting for views on the proposed public private partnership (PPP) scheme for Dundee.

I have no difficulty with the SSBA or any other organisation carrying out this type of survey in Dundee, although I would hope that when the results of any such surveys are analysed they reflect the citywide picture rather than the views of a minority.

Anne Wilson Director of education Dundee City Council