As the new school year begins, NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is calling on Glasgow City Council to reverse its planned cuts to teacher numbers.

A Freedom of Information request from NASUWT to the Council has revealed that it holds no information on any risk assessments that have been completed in relation to the Council's plans to cut teacher posts and how those plans could impact on pupil and staff safety. Nor has it provided NASUWT with any equalities impact assessments that have been carried out in relation to the Council’s plans to cut teacher posts and any consequent impact on staff and pupils in relation to equal opportunities.

The Council did provide requested data on average class sizes in the primary sector, which demonstrates that Glasgow City Council has higher than average class sizes in Scotland for every stage of primary school, from P1 to P7.

The Council refused to provide requested data on the number of assaults on staff and pupils over the past five years, but did acknowledge that: ‘there has been a considerable increase in reported incidents for the period of July 2023 to July 2024.’

Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland National Official, said:

“NASUWT believes that this all demonstrates that councillors have not been provided with the full information they need in order to make a decision with such wide-ranging consequences. Furthermore, it shows a system that is already under strain and can ill-afford further cuts, especially to something as vital as teacher numbers.

“We are in formal dispute with Glasgow City Council over this matter and call on the Council to urgently review its ill-informed decision-making and reverse its damaging plans.”