Parents hope landscape lures teachers to Barra vacancy

A parent council is promoting an island’s landscape in an effort to attract applicants to a vacancy for a maths teacher at their school.

The closing date for applications to the post at Castlebay Community School on the Isle of Barra in the Western Isles is 28 September.

Worried by a problem filling vacancies at rural Scottish schools, Castlebay’s parent council has made a public plea.

They have asked teachers with a love of the outdoors to consider the job.

Chris Denehy, the council’s chairman who also runs a sea kayaking business, said: “The Isle of Barra is an amazing place to run our sea kayaking business from, with beautiful islands and stunning beaches to explore.

“Likewise the island is a great place to bring up our five children.”

He added: “It surprises me that the school isn’t overrun with applicants every time a vacancy becomes available.

“I can only assume that the message of how good Barra is hasn’t reached the teachers that would relish this wonderful island community.

“That’s why the parent council has decided to try and raise the profile of this vacancy.”

Other remote and rural communities have used their landscapes as ways to fill vacant jobs.

In 2009, Melvich Primary in Sutherland made a video showing their school and surrounding area and uploaded it to YouTube in a bid to attract a new head teacher.

Also in 2009, residents of Applecross in Wester Ross set up a website to advertise a vacancy for a local doctor.

The site promoted the job as one that would suit a GP hoping to live in a small, friendly community, who enjoyed the outdoors.

An advert was also be placed in magazines dedicated to outdoor pursuits.

Adverts appeared in Leeds last year to publicise vacancies for GPs in the Highlands. NHS Highland used the ads to highlight the scenery of the area and ask doctors if they wanted to “live the dream”.