Fury over teacher cuts has triggered calls for council chiefs to explain themselves and top politicians to witness it at a public meeting in the Highlands next week.
The event, hosted by Dingwall Academy Parent Council, will highlight the loss of “6.5” teachers and reduction of 140 staff hours per week at the school.
Scottish Education Minister Angela Constance has been invited along with MP Ian Blackford, MSP Dave Thompson, council chief executive Steve Barron, education chairman Drew Millar and local councillors.
Parents fear a rise in class sizes, reduction in courses and cut in support needs staff.
The parent council has acknowledged that the pressures are region-wide and praised staff. But it has also registered doubt that the academy “will meet the minimum statutory requirements for your child as set out by the Scottish Government.”
Highland Council insists that staff numbers were protected as part of an unprecedented 2016-17 budget in which it had no choice but to make multimillion-pound savings.
Education director Bill Alexander said: “While it’s inevitable that there’ll be some impact on the delivery of the curriculum, we will mitigate this through the progress we’re making on virtual learning, an optimal timetable via a 33-period week, our management of schools programme – which will enhance support to head teachers – and the reorganisation of the curriculum.
“Because of falling rolls in many secondary schools, the continued focus on recruiting to vacancies, increasing staffing levels in primary schools and additional teachers placed in deprived areas to raise attainment, the council will meet a government target on teacher ratios.”
Highland Council must shed 71 teachers by August, under a policy agreed by the previous multi-party administration in December 2014 but not yet implemented.
The complex process largely relates to staff-pupil ratio quotas set by the Scottish Government. However, the reduction includes a 1% cut in secondary teacher numbers which was deferred last year.
Monday’s meeting is at 7pm at Dingwall Academy.