Home » Education & Family » Headteacher wanted for island school with four pupils
Education & Family

Headteacher wanted for island school with four pupils

A primary school on a tiny Scottish island is looking for a new principal.

The position at Foula’s elementary school, which has just four students, has been described as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

The school is on an island some 16 miles from mainland Shetland, which is home to just 28 people.

Beverley MacPherson, who is retiring after four years as boss, said it was an “idyllic job”.

It comes with a salary of £61,374 and a three-bedroom rented house.

According to the Shetland Islands Council job advertisement, candidates should have “vision, energy and a ‘can-do’ attitude”.

Ms MacPherson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s probably the most relaxing job as Headmistress I’ve ever had and I’ve had several, including in England with bigger schools than this one.

“It’s just a beautiful setting and such nice families to work with.

“The daily work is very different from any classes I have done before because these little ones are with me six hours a day.

“There are no shops or pubs on this island so it’s very peaceful and quiet, when I look out my windows I can’t see any other house north or south of where I live.

“You have to like the quiet and the isolation that this job brings.”

The post of Headmaster in the one-year school is advertised on the Shetland Islands Council website.

The ad reads, “Are you a Principal or prospective Principal looking for an exciting new challenge? Do you dream of being part of a friendly, dynamic island community with a slower pace of life?”

The leader is said to be assisted by a number of part-time staff including an art teacher, an IT teacher and a school administrator.

Foula is less than five miles long and the islanders run their own electricity grid as they are not connected to the national grid.

The island is powered by three wind turbines, a hydroelectric generator and solar panels.

It is served by a ferry that departs from mainland Shetland three times a week.

There are also regular flights to the island from Tingwall Airport, just outside Lerwick.

The island adheres to the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, which means that the island celebrates Christmas Day on both December 25 and January 6.

New Year is celebrated on January 13th.

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment