Highland Council Recruits Island Head Teacher
The largest education authority in Scotland is recruiting a Head Teacher for a primary school on the smallest and southernmost island of the small isles in Lochaber.
Muck Primary School, with a school roll of currently 7 pupils and 3 nursery pupils, which serves a population of around 30 people, is seeking a new Head Teacher.
The post which attracts a £41,532 salary, plus remote allowance and distant island allowance comes with a 3-bedroomed schoolhouse above the school – both built in 1993.
The school has a large classroom area and smaller adjoining room which is used by the nursery, island’s toddler group, and as a wet area for art, craft and science. In addition to a kitchen, office and toilets the school has a conservatory off the classroom which provides additional space and the public library is located there.
Around the school is a fenced area for the children to work and play in containing new outdoor timber play equipment. The school is provided with electric central heating from a recently developed wind power scheme. A new Parent Council has been operational since August 2007.
The Island of Muck, is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the west coast of Scotland, and together with its neighbours, Eigg, Rum and Canna, they form the Small Isles. The island is about two miles long by one mile wide. Cattle and sheep farming with Highland Pony breeding are the main forms of employment on the Island with environmental conservation playing an ever more important role.
The main transport link from Muck to mainland Mallaig is with Caledonian MacBrayne who run a passenger and cargo ferry service three times a week in winter and summer. The sailing time from Mallaig to Muck is approximately 2½ hours.
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “This is a unique opportunity for someone to live and work in one of our most beautiful parts of the west Highlands. The school plays an important part in a small rural community and actively promotes partnership between home, school and the wider community. The successful candidate will be strongly supported by parents and the wider community and will also receive a wide range of support from our Education Directorate, Quality Improvement staff and other Council services.”
Informal enquiries about the post may be made to Laurence Young, Highland Council’s Senior Education Officer, Tel: 01397 707350 or application forms can be obtained from tel: 01349 868660 (24 hour telephone answering service). The closing date for application is Friday 30th May 2008.