Inverness parents speak out about ‘unsafe’ conditions at Drummond School as ‘system fails’ children and staff
Parents of pupils at an Inverness school catering for pupils with learning difficulties have shared their concerns for children and staff, saying the system is failing them.
In an exclusive letter to The Inverness Courier, the collective of concerned parents and carers of pupils at Drummond School said that they have been left ‘with no choice but to speak out publicly’ about the ‘unsafe environment’.
They are calling for urgent intervention, meaningful investment and transparency into school - which has pupils aged up to 18 - and additional support needs (ASN) provision across the Highlands.
They claim that staff are under immense pressure; child plans are going unmet; classrooms are closing; and teachers are being expected to carry out complex healthcare tasks without any on-site medical support, following the removal of the school nurse.
They allege they have been raising urgent concerns about conditions at the specialist school and the impact this is having on some of the most vulnerable children in the community.
The school is originally designed to support up to no more than 90 pupils with complex additional needs.
However, according to concerned parents it is now operating with around 105, with six more to be enrolled, despite already being beyond capacity.
The ‘Parent’s voice’ letter stated: “We have been patient. We have done what was asked of us. Now it’s time for Highland Council to step up. Our children deserve better - and we won’t stay silent any longer.
“Drummond School supports some of the most vulnerable children in Scotland.
“These children deserve the very best start in life - an education that nurtures their potential and safeguards their wellbeing. But right now, we are deeply concerned.”
The parents say that due to ongoing cuts and a lack of adequate support from Highland Council, the situation has become critical.
They state that staff are stretched to their limits, working tirelessly under immense pressure to provide the care and education the children need.
“As parents we are beyond worry. We fear for the mental health and safety of both the children and the staff,” it stated.
“We, as parents, were advised that the school needed to gather evidence before any meaningful action could be taken. So we did exactly that. We’ve waited.
“We followed all the proper channels, submitted our concerns and hoped that by working constructively, things would improve.
“But here we are, a year later and still nothing has changed. No improvements. No relief for the overburdened staff. No measurable difference for the children.
“We’re constantly told not to ‘shout from the rooftops’ or ‘cause a scene’. But let’s be honest: at this point, it feels like these delays are nothing more than another excuse by Highland Council to buy themselves more time. And it’s uncalled for.
“These are real children, with real needs and their futures are being compromised while decision-makers stall.
“The school is struggling. Staff are under immense pressure. Child plans are going unmet. Classrooms are closing. Access to therapeutic services and life skills support is shrinking. Staff incidents and absences are increasing.”
The parents believe that poor staff-to-pupil ratios are directly impacting the short and long-term educational and developmental outcomes of the children.
“This is not the specialised, supportive environment our children were promised - and certainly not what they deserve,” they stated.
The Parent Council submitted a Freedom of Information request regarding staffing at Drummond School.
It was established that in the current year, there are 29 teachers and 73 pupil support assistants compared to 34 and 84, respectively, in the previous year.
In November, parents and guardians were informed that the council was in the process of reviewing the planning capacity of Drummond School and that they would be informed of the outcome.
Yet they say to date, still no update has been give or decision has been shared.
The letter states: “This continued silence, despite clear acknowledgment of the issue is unacceptable and further erodes trust in the promises we have been given.
“This is a significant reduction in staff while enrolment numbers have increased.
“With many children at Drummond requiring one-to-one or even two-to-one support and with each child’s needs being unique, the current staff-to-pupil ratio is unsustainable and puts unacceptable pressure on everyone in the building.
“We feel deeply for the staff. We see how hard they work, how much they care and how much they are carrying on their shoulders every single day.
“We are grateful for everything they do. But they are being placed in an impossible position by a system that continues to fail them - and our children.
“The council is treating all ASN teachers as generalists rather than specialists, which has led to the misuse of specialist roles. This situation has persisted since August.”
Due to ongoing staff shortages at Drummond School, subject specialist teachers such as those in music and art are being reassigned to cover general classroom roles.
As a result, extracurricular activities such as swimming and biking have been frequently cancelled and pupils in their final years are missing out on vital transition experiences to prepare for life after school, which is crucial to have in place.
The letter concludes: “This is not just about funding; it’s about responsibility. Something must change before a serious incident occurs. Our children, our teachers and our community deserve better.
“We urgently need more support before the system breaks entirely.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Staffing allocations for Drummond School are based on the national Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) staffing regulations for special schools. This is a different model to how we support and resource ASL [additional support for learning] provision in mainstream schools.
“Officers continue to link in regularly with the school as part of normal improvement processes and work with the school’s senior leadership team to address any issues.
“Parents have recently communicated with council officers and a response was provided; further contact is planned in the coming week.”
