Council apologises after primary school union flag row

A council has apologised after a primary school wrote to parents saying the appearance of union flags at a leavers’ event could have been seen as “offensive or sectarian”.

The head teacher of Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead said flags featuring pictures of staff, which had been brought to the event by primary 7 pupils, “caused some upset”.

Senior Scottish Conservatives criticised the letter on social media and demanded an apology.

East Renfrewshire Council later said it was not the “school’s intention to imply the union flag is sectarian”.

Head teacher Fiona MacDonald wrote to parents after the leavers’ event on Thursday.

The letter said “the use of the union flag with staff images on had caused considerable upset at the beginning of the night”.

It added the school worked against “potentially offensive or sectarian messaging”.

Ms MacDonald said: “Although we recognise this was not the intent we are concerned that others within or beyond the school community may consider that is something we would encourage.”

The headteacher explained she had spoken to the children to “explain why it wasn’t a good idea” to use images without permission and to explain “the symbolism and association of flags and symbols to different groups of people”.

Conservative politicians from East Renfrewshire, including former Scottish party leader Jackson Carlaw, had demanded an apology for the implication in the letter that the union flag itself was sectarian.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay posted: “Our country’s flag is not ‘offensive or sectarian’.”

A council spokesperson said: “It was not the school’s intention to imply the union flag is sectarian and both the head teacher and the council apologises for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community.

“All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society.

“We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity.”