A split has appeared in the ranks of teachers' employers over attempts to reform pay and conditions in Scotland's schools.

One member of the management side says he disagrees with aspects of their offer.

The division emerged as the biggest union, the EIS, began balloting its members on the proposals.

United front

Until now the management side has presented a united front over its plans - which would trade changes in the way teachers work for a �200m pay package.

But now Alan Findlay, who chairs Aberdeenshire's education committee, says he can't support his own side's proposals to increase the size of composite classes.

Alan Findlay: "Can't support size proposals"

At present such classes, where children of different ages are taught in the same classroom, are limited to a maximum of 25 pupils.

The new proposals would allow some composite class sizes to be as big as 30.

Councillor Findlay says that may suit schools in urban areas, but not rural councils like Aberdeenshire, where two-thirds of primaries have such classes.

And while he supports the rest of the management offer, he says he must break ranks on this issue.

'Split' sign

His comments have been seized on by the EIS. Its General Secretary Ronnie Smith said it was the first sign of a split - although he wasn't surprised that "the veneer of unity" was beginning to disintegrate.

The management side says their offer would reduce the number of composite classes by two-thirds.

The EIS's salaries committee has already rejected the package.