A CONFIDENTIAL job-sizing exercise tested in six local authorities has unveiled an uncanny similarity between the probable long-term savings in the secondary sector and likely salary increases in primaries once management posts are reorganised in August.
It is common knowledge that primaries will be the substantial gainers and secondaries the prime losers in the post-McCrone shake-up. But the sample from the authorities, which included Glasgow and Dundee, produced almost matching sums in terms of winners and losers.
The initiative was always designed to be cost-neutral and protect against equal pay claims by disgruntled primary heads.
The six councils, in rough estimates for the Pricewaterhouse Coopers analysis, suggested they would save pound;1.6 million a year from the secondaries, which would translate nationally into pound;8.5 million.
At the same time, primary paycosts would rise nationally by pound;8 million, principally because of salary hikes needed to bring headteachers up to secondary levels.
Overall, it is suggested that the promoted post pay bill might eventually rise by 2.4 per cent, a small sum in the larger salary bill.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association is mounting a last-ditch campaign to prevent what it argues is the decimation of promoted posts.
David Eaglesham, general secretary, writing in the association’s newsletter, estimates that 62 per cent of headteachers, 91 per cent of deputes, 84 per cent of former assistant heads and 72 per cent of principal teachers will be conserved on their existing scale.
This will damage morale as many will feel their subject or department is being downgraded, Mr Eaglesham argues.
* Around 800 teachers in South Lanarkshire have expressed interest in “generous” early retiral packages for the over-50s and will find out early next month if they are to be successful in winning the first golden goodbyes under the post-McCrone deal. The authority wants to bring in 100 new primary and secondary teachers .
