HEADTEACHERS, parents and pupils could be given more power over the running of schools under radical proposals from a Scottish council.

Under the plan clusters of primary and secondary schools in Clackmannanshire will be run by school boards which could feature senior staff, pupils and parents.

The move comes as the council seeks a new way of running education after the collapse of an arrangement with Stirling Council - which had taken over the administration of its schools under a cost-cutting exercise.

Councillors have decided to press ahead with the establishment of new school boards which were recommended in a report by educational consultant and former chief executive of Clackmannanshire Keir Bloomer.

The board would take decisions on key aspects of school life including the curriculum, staff appointments and finance.

His report states: "It would be important that boards a representative of the main groups in the community. Parents are the most important of these and all schools would need to have at least one representative.

"There could be places for senior pupils from the secondary school. Local businesses should be represented as should teaching and support staff."

Mr Bloomer suggested local councillors could also be members of the school board - although with rights of attendance rather than voting rights.

His report adds: "The establishment of boards could represent a significant extension of grassroots democracy. Real, if limited power, could be delegated by the council. Schools could benefit from having access to outside expertise.

"The board covering the area of the cluster might be expected to attract a high calibre of participants. This would be in contrast contrast to the experience of individual schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas, which have found it difficult to attract members for parent councils."

Mr Bloomer said one of the main advantage of the new model would be to move away form the "us and them" mentality of traditional school management and replace it with a system where ownership of education would reside with schools and communities.

Les Sharp, the council leader, said: "The council has acted swiftly in response to what has happened with shared services and has used it as an opportunity to move forward very positively to put in place something which enhances what we do and leads to better outcomes.

"I am delighted this council has reacted so positively to this situation and has used it as an opportunity to make changes that will focus our energies on improving educational outcomes for all our young people."

The development was welcomed by headteachers and parents, although there was caution over how far the reforms would go.

Jim Thewliss, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers, said: "We are happy to open up a dialogue on this model which is an interesting development, but it is not yet clear quite how it will operate.

"Headteachers would have concerns that this model did not go too far down the route of academy schools in England where headteachers are given control of everything down to the maintenance of the buildings."

Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said the proposal had the potential to provide a "sound platform" for greater involvement of parents in governance matters.

She added: "However this is very high level and it is not yet clear what will emerge. From our perspective the council has the opportunity to build in models of practice which have a strong focus on parental involvement with learning and improving outcomes for children."