Principals at public schools operate at real disadvantages to their private school counterparts, according to the head of the teaching union.

Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) General Secretary Mike Charles was speaking after Saltus Headmaster Ted Staunton revealed a restructuring of the school that would involve making six teachers redundant.

And he also said there was much greater parental support in private schools compared to the state schools.

Mr. Charles said: "Principals in the public schools don't have that control over their schools. According to the education rules, it's in the powers of the Permanent Secretary. He can transfer teachers.

"If a principal wants to do that, he or she would have to go through Human Resources. He couldn't do what they're [Saltus] doing. The only people they answer to is their board."

Asked if this was a reason for the failings in the public education system, Mr. Charles said: "I don't know if that's the only reason. The only way you could compare the schools was if we could take in the same type of students.

"Our inputs are not the same. We take students that they kick out. It's very difficult. If a kid is giving problems at Saltus or BHS, they kick them out. It doesn't matter how smart they are. In public schools they can't do that. It has to go through all kinds of hearings."

He added: "To expel a kid, that takes a heck of a lot. You have to have a hearing and the parents are there. These are the kinds of things people don't understand. If you go to a school like CedarBridge, there is a big learning support staff. They expect us to do magic."

Mr. Charles said he believed private schools had almost total parental support, adding: "You have to go to meetings, do raffles. In public school, if you don't show up for meetings, you don't show up. It's a big difference. I guess the public only look at the results. You have to look at everything that goes on.

"We are hoping that with this new Cambridge curriculum we can do better but that will take some time. You're asking these same kids who have problems to do better."