Remote learning
Head sought for £58k post at tiny island primary school with just nine pupils on roll
A head teacher is wanted at one of Scotland’s remotest schools with only nine pupils.
Education bosses on the remote Orkney island of Papa Westray are looking for someone to take on the £58,128-a-year post at their tiny primary school.
The island only has 35 houses with a population of 85.
The post is being advertised due to current head Tim Ross making the shortest of career moves after three years in the job.
He was recently appointed to the same role at Westray Junior High School on neighbouring Westray – less than a minute away by plane.
Tim sa id : “For anyone interested in education in Scotland today, the Papay School is a great place to be. It may be
peedie (small) but it’s powerful, and it provides wonderful opportunities to work with a committed staff team.
“As a teacher, the potential for capitalising on the Curriculum
for Excellence and autonomy for planning exciting teaching and learning is very rewarding.
“Westray and Papay are close communities and I hope to work with my successor on Papay to further strengthen these links.” Tim moved to Orkney with his parents in 2002. He was awarded a PhD in physics after five years at the University of Richmond, Virginia, in the US.
Papay has a roll of nine at present – four children in the nursery department and five within the primary section.
While recruitment continues, Tim oversees his old school one day a week in support of acting principal teacher Karl Simpson.
He has been a supply teacher at Papay for two years and recently stepped up in the acting principal role.
He said: “I have never felt more welcome in a school or a community.
“But that is an important part of whoever is successful ly appointed – they must want to be par t of the close- knit community.
“It’s an integral part of the role for that commitment to the residents as well.”
The island may be small but it has a forward-thinking attitude, with an annual arts festival and a refurbished craft centre.
The hop between Papa Westray and Westray is the world ’s shortest scheduled f light. The official record for the 1.7-mile flight is 53 seconds.