Yesterday the Education and Children’s Services Committee met and some important decisions have been made, most notably regarding the Dunfermline and West Fife’s Catchment Areas. The first part of the meeting involved making a decision on term dates over the coming years and this was agreed quickly. The next part of the agenda was on […]

Liberal Democrat Councillors on Fife Council have recently highlighted the fact that there are 24 schools in Fife which are rated as being in a poor condition. Cllr James Calder, the Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, said It must be a cause of concern that we have 24 school buildings across Fife which are rated as […]

Next week the Education and Children’s Services Committee of Fife Council will meet and decide on whether to proceed to consultation for the changes required in Dunfeemline and West Fife Catchment areas. Fife Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson and Councillor for Dunfermline South is urging for Councillors to make progress on this issue which is continuing […]

Yesterday was the first Full Fife Council Meeting since the budget and there were some interesting discussions and debates taking place. The Provost began by discussing the recent weather and there was general agreement amongst Councillors that the entire community had rallied round to face this. As we went into the meeting we had presentations […]

At today’s Dunfermline Area Committee, a number of items such as a report on the performance of local schools as well as funding approvals for the Abbeyview After School Club, local community planning budget request for Consolidation and Application of Learning and a funding contribution to go with the recent Heritage Lottery Funding award for […]

The Fife Council budget meeting took place today and as such I wanted to update the residents of Dunfermline South on what has taken place. As with all budgets, there were aspects I was happy with and some aspects that I have concerns with, and naturally as an opposition politician I was unable to get […]

In August 2017 Fife Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Councillor James Calder, raised the issue that Fife Council paid less than the Scottish average for the school uniform grant for children of lower incomes.  The proposed budget by the Fife Council Administration would provide an increase of £200,000 for the grant and this has been welcomed […]

Recent figures have shown an increase in unauthorised absence from schools across Scotland, and this increase has been replicated in Fife. From the 2012/13 session to 2016/17 session, primary school unauthorised absence has increased from 1.69% of pupils to 1.95% of pupils, while in just one year from 2015/16 session to 2016/17 session it increased […]

Next week the Education and Children’s Services Committee will meet to discuss a report on the Dunfermline Schools catchment situation. While I will not be at the meeting I will be discussing this with my fellow Liberal Democrat Councillor Tim Brett who will be our Party’s representative to the Committee. The current situation in my view […]

After a recent petition launched by Liberal Democrat Councillor for Dunfermline South James Calder that received over 300 signatures, he wrote to John Swinney’s MSP, the Scottish Education Secretary. Mr Swinney has now replied with a positive response. Councillor Calder has said, After the fantastic response to my petition I made a point of making […]