Starting school
Our eldest went to school today for his induction before he starts properly in August. We met all his mates from nursery and lots of new friends, and went off to meet the teacher and see the new classroom. There were lots of tears.
From mum.
Turning up to the school in my zimmer and incontinence pants, I fully expected to be the butt of fun from the young mothers. Surprisingly the average age of the parents was much older than I expected.
Actually this is very worrying for the islands. I would estimate that 25% of the parents who were there were over 40, and than only 25% were under 30. Factor in that some new starts are not first children and the average age of the parents was still worryingly high.
When I started school (and I am sure someone will correct my faulty memory) there were three - or was it four - very full classes for Primary 1, say 90-120 children. This year, the same school has two Primary One classes and a Gaelic Medium Unit totalling (I think) fewer than 30 pupils pupils. The following table is taken from the Council website, which I have quoted before, on last year's numbers
We see lots of young women pushing prams past our office, so where are the children going? Off the island along with their parents, I would suggest. The overall school rolls for the entire islands last year were:
It seems to me that we are losing the youngsters who would normally repopulate the islands and the schools are only being kept going by the 'new' older parents. This suggests a very serious crash in pupil numbers in the next five years, which will potentially be the precipice for a vicious circle.
I so hope I am wrong.
From mum.
Turning up to the school in my zimmer and incontinence pants, I fully expected to be the butt of fun from the young mothers. Surprisingly the average age of the parents was much older than I expected.
Actually this is very worrying for the islands. I would estimate that 25% of the parents who were there were over 40, and than only 25% were under 30. Factor in that some new starts are not first children and the average age of the parents was still worryingly high.
When I started school (and I am sure someone will correct my faulty memory) there were three - or was it four - very full classes for Primary 1, say 90-120 children. This year, the same school has two Primary One classes and a Gaelic Medium Unit totalling (I think) fewer than 30 pupils pupils. The following table is taken from the Council website, which I have quoted before, on last year's numbers
| Locale | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | P7 |
| Stornoway Primary School | 36 | 35 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 53 | 61 |
We see lots of young women pushing prams past our office, so where are the children going? Off the island along with their parents, I would suggest. The overall school rolls for the entire islands last year were:
| Locale | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | P7 |
| Overall Totals | 226 | 276 | 273 | 291 | 276 | 329 | 362 |
It seems to me that we are losing the youngsters who would normally repopulate the islands and the schools are only being kept going by the 'new' older parents. This suggests a very serious crash in pupil numbers in the next five years, which will potentially be the precipice for a vicious circle.
I so hope I am wrong.
9 comments:
Yes, Angus, I seem to remember three very full classes of P1's in Murdo MacLeans short trousers, Alec MacAulays white shirts and Geordie Stewarts school shoes. Better not mention that we did a term in 'the Clock School' in P1 as well or people will think we're really old!
Definitely not all bad news. Here in the Uists, there is some kind of baby boom underway, with many women apparently expecting.
I don't know the exact figures, and am reliant on local gossip anyway so wouldn't trust them entirely, but there is some concern about the level of midwifery(?) that may be required later in 2007.
The next census, in three years or so, will make interesting reading. Here on Berneray the permanent resident population has gone from 118 in October 2004 to 127 as of now. There would be more as there have been many people enquiring about moving here, but for an almost total lack of livable housing for purchase on the island.
Anecdotal evidence i.e. not very reliable stories, suggest that the births have peaks and troughs, with the Maternity Ward operating from flat out to empty.
Whether the actual trend is up or down is anyone's guess at the moment. If only we could get access to the raw data and a statistician.
Some of the information is at available the General Register of Scotland, and for the last quarter of 2006 the crude data is interesting.
Fertility rate is 10.2 compared to an average of 10.8 for the whole of Scotland. 59% of births were male. Births of 68 were exceed by deaths of 90.
One quarter is useless in statistical terms, but does provide a crude snapshot that is not hugely attractive in demographic terms.
"New older parent" i hope you seriously aren't trying to pass yourself off as that! Never mind i am sure you still have enough time to repopulate Stornoway Primary
Births and deaths are only 2 of 4 factors that provide the total balance, the others being people moving here and people moving out.
The next census will be interesting; it's kinda a pity it's just once a decade.
Absolutely, a totally blunt instrument, but all we have - at the moment.
In our first term, our statistics lecturer told us that "Seasonally adjusted, it never rains in Scotland", which was a good introduction to "Lies, damn lies and statistics".
Depopulation amongst the young has more to do with the hypocritical aspects of island organised religon
Do you here me saying otherwise???
i've never liked vicious cycles...i must've been run over by a bike when young...
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