COUNCILS are preparing to hit back at moves to pass more control of Scottish schools direct to headteachers.

Cosla, the umbrella body for local authorities, is seeking a meeting with Education Secretary John Swinney to discuss his controversial proposals.

Earlier this week, Mr Swinney announced moves to give unprecedented legal responsibilities for the education of pupils to schools as part of a new delivery plan for education.

The plans will also see millions of pounds of funding given directly to headteachers to allow for key decisions to be made at school level and the setting up of education regions to "decentralise management".

In a letter to council chief executives and political leaders David O’Neill, president of Cosla, expressed misgivings about the Scottish Government proposals.

The letter states: "Despite our best efforts in the last few weeks, the delivery plan contains a number of commitments which cause concern for local government leaders. Our public response has been cautious until now as we were working to maximise any potential flexibility in the system.

"I have asked Cosla officers to undertake a series of actions over the summer recess period which will allow us to have a fully informed discussion at the leaders' meeting scheduled for 26 August."

Mr O'Neill said Cosla would be meeting with a wide range of trade unions "to establish a consistent and coherent local government position".

An extraordinary meeting of Cosla's Education Executive Group will also be held in August alongside professional associations and trade unions "who are all raising similar concerns about the long term impact of some of these commitments by Scottish Government".

Earlier this month, councils warned Mr Swinney that "hasty" changes to the country's education system "could do irreparable damage for future generations".

They fear passing money directly to headteachers could damage education because it prevents councils using funding more flexibly to address particular issues such as deprivation.

However, secondary headteachers have argued it is unfair that similar sized schools in different parts of the country are given different levels of funding. Meanwhile, primary headteachers are more reluctant to take on the burden of administration of funding saying they are "not accountants".