SNP councillor Euan Hyslop has put forward a motion to the city\u2019s education committee asking council officers to present data on how many students are on reduced timetables.<\/p>\n
It also asks for data on why pupils are placed on them, and any information available on what timetable exists for getting them back to full-time education.<\/p>\n
It comes after an investigation by Edinburgh Live found that over 1,100 pupils in Edinburgh are on reduced timetables.<\/p>\n
Some 140 primary pupils, including many with additional support needs, and 978 more secondary students are on the reduced schedules.<\/p>\n
While part-time education can be effective if correctly monitored and applied, there are fears it is being used as a method for schools without resources to meet the needs of some pupils.<\/p>\n
And teachers and union leaders have warned that the issue may go deeper, with concerns that a number of \u2018ghost pupils\u2019 are registered at schools but never attend.<\/p>\n
Cllr Hyslop previously told Edinburgh Live that, if pupils were on reduced timetables at such a scale, it would be \u2018incredibly concerning\u2019.<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cCouncillors have a duty to respond to the challenges facing our education system here in the city and to drive forward the educational wellbeing and attainment of all young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to do that if information is not being recorded properly and if we don\u2019t have the full picture regarding pupil attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n
One student whose parents spoke to Edinburgh Live was found to be registered as attending school full-time, but only received a half-hour of teaching per week.<\/p>\n
And another was reportedly only in school for two-thirds of the day, despite being recorded as being a full-time student.<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n