A warm Highland welcome for probationer teachers

One hundred and nineteen probationer teachers were recently welcomed to the Highlands (on Friday 17 August) at an Induction Course held in Smithton Free Church Hall.   

We were also delighted to welcome a group of 13 new Canadian teachers, recruited through our agency partners TimePlan Education who will work in our primary and secondary schools across the authority.

Bill Alexander, Highland Council’s Director of Care and Learning welcomed the probationers saying: “It’s really good to see so many young people starting their careers in education, here in the Highland and I wish them all well. We hope we are able to retain as many of them as possible after their years’ probation, as the Highlands has a lot to offer as a place to live and work in. Highland communities greatly value the role that teachers play in the lives of our young people, and we believe that high quality teaching underpins the successes that our pupils achieve.” 

Jim Steven, Head of Education added: “This is an exciting day for all of our new probationers, and it is also an exciting day for the Highland Council. Each and every one is an asset to Highland communities, and to the schools, children and families they will be working with over the next year. I am confident that they will enjoy working in their new schools, and I hope that they all settle in the Highlands for many years to come.”

The new teachers start working in schools across the Highlands when primary and secondary pupils return to school following their summer break.

Of the 119 probationers on the Teacher Induction Scheme, 47 have been allocated to secondary schools and 72 to primary schools in the Highlands.