A community owned school – which has been described as the first enterprise of its kind in Scotland – is looking for a new headteacher just three months after opening.
Strontian Primary School, on the Ardnamnurchan peninsula in Argyll, opened in October last year after the community raised almost £1 million to replace the previous rundown building.
The school is being leased to Highland Council and has 29 pupils.
Highland Council officers back first Scottish community-build school project
The headteacher at the time of the opening, Pamela Hill, suddenly quit her post to move away from the area, which has a population of around 400.
Since then, the board of the community school, and Highland Council, has been advertising for a new teacher to take on the £46,500 post, but without any success.
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Treasurer Jamie McIntyre said: “It has previously been a bit of a challenge to attract people within the teaching profession to anywhere in the Highlands.
“So I cannot think it will be any different here.
“Housing is often a major issue, as affordable properties are in short supply.
“We are hoping that the prospect of working in a brand new school will encourage people to apply.”
Highland Council began a recruitment drive within days of Ms Hill’s resignation in November.
A spokeswoman said: “We have management arrangements in place to cover the school.”
When the school opened in October, it was celebrated with a live Twitter feed which stated: “History made! A fantastic and emotional day as our community-owned and built primary school opens to pupils for the first time.”
The honour of the ribbon cutting ceremony went to the school’s youngest pupil, Fionn Togher. The building cost £900,000, and was created after Highland Council had proposed making improvements to the old school, before the community took it upon themselves to finance their own school building.
If the school is no longer needed in the future, the building has been designed in such a way it can be converted into affordable homes.
The construction of the new primary was completed in August and Highland Council took over its running.
