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Headteacher hunt for isles of Eigg and Muck

The island of Ulva, on the right, passed out of private ownership and into the hands of the local community.
The island of Ulva, on the right, passed out of private ownership and into the hands of the local community.

It is one of the remotest and most geographically challenging head teacher jobs in the country, with two schools and a mere handful of pupils on separate, if stunning islands.

But the search has begun for a new cluster head for the primary schools on Eigg and Muck  in the Small Isles off Scotland’s west coast.


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The post had been held for several years by the popular Andy Murray who has now left for Forgandenny in Perth.

Highland Council has begun the recruitment process for the job, which offers a £45,111-a-year job, together with other  allowances of a little over £4,800.

The role also comes with a flat on Eigg.

The deadline for applications ended last month, with the local authority now thought to be weighing the merits of potential candidates.

A council spokeswoman said:”The recruitment process is still under way. An acting cluster head is currently in post.”

The council also has a comprehensive relocation package which may be available to the successful candidate.

Eigg currently has just six children in its primary school, while Muck has nine.

The two islands are about three miles, or a 35 minute ferry trip, apart – though the direct link is only available three times a week from Eigg and once from Muck.

The head oversees the equivalent of two full time teachers – one for each island – though on Eigg the post is shared between two women.

Eight people recently sought to become a teacher for the nine children on Muck.

All who applied to fill the vacant principal teacher’s job travelled to see what island life was like.

And they were told they will have to literally Muck in with the community.

A woman from mainland Scotland won the race to teach the isle’s children.

The hunt for a teacher on Muck was started after the its teacher quit less than two years after taking up the post.

When Laura Marriner took over as the teacher on the tiny island she attracted national headlines and even started a blog.

The then 31-year-old, together with husband Dean, 33, and children, Charlie, five, and Atticus, 20 months, boosted the population of the island by about 10% when they came from Andover.

Charlie also boosted the school numbers as he joined the Primary 1 class.

The £41,418-a-year principal teacher job Mrs Mariner assumed came with a home for rent and a generous relocation package.

It was advertised on the island’s Facebook to attract worldwide interest and also featured pupils answering questions about island life.

Highland Council says of Eigg, which has a population of 110: “The children are encouraged to both appreciate and learn from their local environment and to develop a wider interest in the natural world generally.

“The school is an integral part of life on Eigg, making a positive social and environmental contribution to island life.

“The pupils organise and participate in community events, including social evenings and beach clean-ups.”

Of Muck, which is 16 miles from the mainland, it adds:”The school is a central part of a small island community.

“The school promotes and encourages a positive and inclusive ethos where pupils’ good behaviour, effort, and achievements in and out of school are recognised and celebrated.”