COUNCIL education bosses insist they will continue work to close the poverty gap in Clydebank’s schools despite the Scottish Government stripping them of school controls.

In sweeping reforms announced last week, schools will be put in direct charge of raising attainment, staff recruitment and management, setting curriculum content and overseeing funding.

John Swinney, the deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for education and skills, told the Scottish Parliament last week there would also be a “stronger voice” for parents and children in school, with each school also allocated a “home to school” link worker.

Mr Swinney, who said there would be further consultation on the plans, also announced plans to reform the General Teaching Council for Scotland and bring it together with other bodies into a new Education Workforce Council for Scotland.

However, he insisted there would not be full autonomy, such as with academy-style schools in England, but councils will now share resources with new “regional improvement collaboratives”.

Councils will still be employers, hire headteachers and control the number and location of schools.

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “We have been working with our schools, staff, parents and carers for a number of years on raising attainment and closing the poverty-related attainment gap.

“Our young people are benefitting from these approaches and we remain committed to ensuring they are fully supported to achieve their aspirations and ambitions.We await further details on the reforms and the impact on our young people.”

Council umbrella organisation Cosla has accused the government of removing democratic accountability.

A spokesman said: “There can be no getting away from the fact the Scottish Government is trying to give the impression that Scotland’s councils still have a role to play in the delivery of education when the reality is that they do not; the simple truth is that there will be no meaningful local democratic accountability for education in Scotland.

“This is concerning in every way but particularly that today we have seen the Scottish Government fundamentally ignoring the whole system approach. This will be of most detriment to the most vulnerable.”

Teaching union EIS cautiously welcomed the plans but said more clarification would still be needed.

Mr Swinney, who said there would be further consultation on the plans, said: “At the heart of all our reforms is a simple plan. We will free our teachers to teach; we will put new powers in the hands of our headteachers; we will ensure that parents, families and communities play a bigger role in school life and in their children’s learning; and we will all—government, councils and agencies—support our schools to do what they do best: transform the life chances of our children.”