Head teachers seem to “disappear” and be replaced after poor school inspections in East Ayrshire, a meeting heard.

Five primary schools in the area were ordered to raise standards by Education Scotland inspectors.

The included  Kilmarnock schools Hillhead and Mount Carmel along with Catrine, Logan and Drongan. Four of the schools: Drongan, Logan, Catrine and Mount Carmel have seen headteacher changes since the inspections took place.  Hillhead got a new school boss shortly before the Education Scotland visit. The recently recruited heads appeared before a council meeting to report on progress this week.

Commenting on the shake-up of leadership in the schools, Councillor George Mair said it “seems to be head teachers disappear.”

He asked: “Is there an island they are all on?”

Speaking at the council’s Governance and Scrutiny Committee last week he said the new head teachers appeared to be doing a good job.

But he added: “It leads me to ask the question. What has been going on before? What is the problem with head teachers?”

Committee Chair Councillor Barry Douglas said: “We are not here to discuss individual head teachers.”

The council’s chief governance officer David Mitchell said there is a link between the strength and quality of leadership in schools and reports received. The meeting heard about the status at each school with the new heads giving updates to councillors.

Catrine Primary and Early Childhood Centre was ordered to carry out a list of ‘requirements,’ ‘improvements’ and ‘recommendations’ by inspectors in 2016. A new head teacher Judith Govans who was previously depute in Hurlford, was recruited to the post in June, 2017.