Parents at a Moray school have turned into budding Spielbergs in a heartfelt attempt to attract new staff to their community.
Moray Council is trying to recruit a new head teacher for West End Primary School in Elgin for the third time.
The previous two attempts by the authority failed to find any suitable candidates, despite offering myriad incentives.
And now, the parent council at the school have filmed their own recruitment video to be included on an online advertisement, highlighting the vibrant environment in which the school operates.
Footage has been captured of lively singing performances and bustling assemblies. Children eager to see a new head teacher at the school have also held up a banner asking applicants to “join us”.
Last night, Alex Dunbar, chairwoman of the schools’ parent council, explained the group was eager to think out of the box to attract staff.
She said: “It might encourage a lot of people to apply or it might attract none. We just wanted to try so that we know we had done our best.
“West End is one of the best schools academically and for extra-curricular activities. We really just wanted to put out a message from the heart that they can hit the ground running here from day one.
“The school’s been around for a long time, it’s an institution. If there’s no head teacher, then it could get paired or merged.
Moray Council’s children and young people’s committee was given an update on the recruitment position across the region yesterday.
Chairwoman Anne Skene admitted the picture remained “gloomy” and confirmed incentives offered by the authority had not bolstered staff ranks.
The authority has offered rent-free accommodation and £5,400 relocation packages to entice applicants.
Its head of schools and curriculum, Vivienne Cross, explained that parents across the region were eager to do what they could to boost recruitment efforts.
She added: “In the first instance, the parent council at West End asked if there was anything they could do.
“They really wanted to do something because they felt they had many things to show to get people to come to Moray.
“It’s going to be linked in with the advert, so anybody looking at the job will be able to click on it and see it.”
