Latest news with #CumbernauldAcademy
Times
04-08-2025
- General
- Times
Pupils told to walk for two hours after council cuts school bus
Pupils have been told they should walk for two hours a day to attend school after the council cut their bus service. The almost three-mile route to Cumbernauld Academy had been deemed unsuitable in April, but parents were notified in June that after the summer break pupils who live on the fringes of the catchment area would be advised to make the journey on foot. Previously, pupils in the Carrickstone area were allocated seats on the school transport service provided by North Lanarkshire council. Emma Ross, whose son Nathan, 12, is due to join the school in August filmed herself walking the route, which she said took 69 minutes each way and included poorly maintained paths through forested areas with overgrown bushes. Nathan is one of 183 pupils affected by the cancellation of three school bus links. Of these pupils, 13 will still be allowed free transport when term starts in less than a fortnight, while the other 170 must make their own way. 'I'm all for exercise and you know a good 15, 20-minute walk is totally acceptable, but after a three-mile hike day and night carrying books and equipment they will be exhausted,' said Ross, 44. 'In Scotland the weather is not the greatest and Cumbernauld itself is very known for its hills.' She questioned the safety of the pupils in winter walking when it was dark, noting some children may be travelling alone after staying late for after-school clubs. She said the forested path 'is obviously very secluded' and the amount of overgrown foliage on the route could be a ' bully or a predator's dream'. Her video, shared on social media, has attracted support from other parents. 'I too am a parent of a 13-year-old girl from Carrickstone,' wrote one. 'I 100 per cent agree the walking route is unsafe.' Another contributor said Ross had 'echoed the thoughts and feelings of parents across Cumbernald,' adding: 'To request young children to do such a walk twice a day, five days a week is ludicrous.' Based on typical walking speeds, 12-year-old children would be expected to take between 45 minutes and 75 minutes to complete the journey to school, and the same to return home at the end of the day. The statutory walking distances for school in the UK are generally two miles for children under the age of eight and three miles for older children. Buses to Cumbernauld Academy and Our Lady's High School in Motherwell are affected by the withdrawal of bus routes. Announcing the decision in June, North Lanarkshire council said: 'The parents and carers of pupils on these contracts had previously received information indicating that no acceptable walking route had been identified at that time. 'Further letters will be issued on June 16, 2025 to advise that this position had now changed and that pupils who currently travel on these contracts will no longer be entitled to school transport from August 2025. 'We understand that this means that some parents/carers will be disappointed with this news but the policy change to school transport qualification distances means that North Lanarkshire council is now in line with the majority of local authorities in Scotland. The routes identified have been deemed acceptable following robust assessments.' Jean Taha, Nathan's grandmother who was born in Lanarkshire and became a deputy head teacher in Plymouth, said she was 'very concerned' about what the decision would mean for her grandson. She said some parents had heard of an assault taking place on the path in the past. She added: 'I worked in a challenging area. There are going to be kids that are going to have to walk to school and will not be properly shod and properly protected from the weather.' This would add to their stress levels and ability to learn, she said. Ross said pupils who walk to school may be at an educational disadvantage compared with their peers. Tanya Braun, director of external affairs for the charity Living Streets, which supports walking to school schemes, said: 'What is considered safe differs depending on location. Even where schools and homes are geographically close, our experience is that people will not choose to walk unless routes are safe and attractive. Better crossings, clear pavements, safe speed limits and good lighting are some of the measures needed to make people feel safe. 'Ultimately, if a family doesn't feel safe to let their child walk to school, then they won't walk – regardless of what's deemed appropriate on paper. 'We know from our work in schools that distance is one of the main factors affecting someone's decision as to whether their child walks to school or not. Removing a sustainable travel option runs the risk of just forcing more people back into their cars, increasing congestion, pollution and road danger around schools. For families without access to a car, it creates unnecessary anxiety at what should be a happy time in the next chapter of their child's life as they seek alternative arrangements.'
Times
03-08-2025
- Times
Pupils face three-mile walk to school after bus cancellation
Pupils have been told they should walk for two hours a day to attend school after the council cut their bus service. The almost three-mile route to Cumbernauld Academy had been deemed unsuitable in April, but parents were notified in June that after the summer break pupils who live on the fringes of the catchment area would be advised to make the journey on foot. Previously, pupils in the Carrickstone area were allocated seats on the school transport service provided by North Lanarkshire council. Emma Ross, whose son Nathan, 12, is due to join the school in August filmed herself walking the route, which she said took 69 minutes each way and included poorly maintained paths through forested areas with overgrown bushes. Nathan is one of 183 pupils affected by the cancellation of three school bus links. Of these pupils, 13 will still be allowed free transport when term starts in less than a fortnight, while the other 170 must make their own way.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
SQA invigilator wins tribunal over unpaid holiday
The ruling could prove costly. According to the SQA's website, around 5,000 invigilators are employed for each exam diet, in addition to 8,000 markers and approximately 1,500 principal assessors and verifiers. In a statement, the SQA said it was considering the implications of the decision. READ MORE: During the hearing, the SQA argued that Ms Shanks, who retired from Police Scotland after 30 years of service in 2021, was neither a worker nor an employee and likened her status to that of a self-employed contractor. They also claimed that as many invigilators were retired they were "not in need of the usual statutory protections." This was rejected by the judge, who noted that invigilators 'come from all stages of life and include for example students and others with several other jobs'. Ms Shanks worked as both an invigilator and later a chief invigilator at Cumbernauld Academy. She brought the case to claim holiday pay for her work in 2023 and 2024, as well as unpaid hours linked to an administrative fee in 2024. Employment Judge Robison, in her written decision, outlined three conditions for meeting the statutory definition of a worker: 'There must be a contract to perform work or services; there must be a requirement for the individual to undertake that work or services personally; and the other party to the contract must not be a client or customer of the claimant.' The tribunal found that there was a contract between Ms Shanks and the SQA for short-term, fixed-task roles. A key point in the ruling was whether Ms Shanks had to carry out the work personally. While the SQA claimed invigilators could swap shifts or appoint substitutes — implying a lack of personal service — Ms Shanks successfully argued that any such right was limited. Substitutes were only allowed in cases of illness or emergency, had to be drawn from the same SQA-vetted centre pool, and were required to have completed SQA training. This level of restriction, the judge concluded, supported the requirement for personal service. Other key factors highlighted by the Judge included the high level of control exercised by the SQA, such as the use of detailed handbooks and policies. They also pointed out that Ms Shanks did not issue invoices, which would typically be expected if the SQA were a client. The SQA also admitted it was not a client or customer of Ms Shanks' business. The judge noted that awarding bodies, including the SQA, were required to auto-enrol eligible invigilators into pension schemes following guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions. Taking all this into account — and recognising that the threshold for establishing worker status is lower than for employee status — the tribunal concluded that Ms Shanks was a worker in both of her SQA roles. The SQA was ordered to pay her £348.18. This included holiday pay based on hourly invigilation work and pay relating to her pre-examination duties as a chief invigilator. READ MORE Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills Miles Briggs said: 'This is just the latest example of the SQA's failure to get its house in order. Yet ministers have been trying to push through a set of cosmetic changes before they have been agreed or even properly examined. 'That would have included the power to hire staff before the structure of the SQA's replacement was even set out, when this case shows they are not even clear on who they currently employ. 'Scotland's qualifications system needs total reorganisation after a string of scandals, but so far Jenny Gilruth has only offered the most vague plans. The staff and students in Scotland's schools are being badly let down by the current shambolic set-up.' Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy said 'This is an embarrassing slap-down for the SQA. 'The SQA has shown time and time again that it is out of touch with the views of staff and the reality of our education system. 'The SNP has failed to deliver the genuine reform our education system needs, but Scottish Labour will continue to work to make sure the upcoming Education Bill replaces the SQA with a body that is fit for purpose.' The EIS said: 'While the EIS does not represent SQA invigilators, there should be a clear expectation that the SQA, as a public body, should comply with all relevant statute when entering into contracts with those acting as invigilators. "Having signed up to the Scottish Government's Fair Work framework, it is also incumbent on the SQA to adhere to the principles of Fair Work in both policy and practice.' – EIS spokesperson An SQA spokesperson said: 'We have received the tribunal ruling relating to the employment status of Invigilators and Chief Invigilators and are considering its implications and next steps.'
