New teacher wanted for 15- remote pupil school in UK

New teacher wanted for remote 15-pupil school Kilchoan IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Kilchoan is a community in Ardnamurchan in the west Highlands Steven McKenzie BBC Scotland News Published 16 January 2024 Updated 17 January 2024 A community in one of the remotest parts of the UK is hoping to find a new full-time teacher for its 15-pupil school. The current teacher at Kilchoan Primary on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, in the west Highlands, is moving to part-time working. Kilchoan residents have been helping spread the word about the £52,800-a-year full-time role on social media, and one post about the job has been shared more than 7,000 times so far. Local mum Kirstie Shirra said the vacancy was more than job: "It's an opportunity to be part of a brilliant, small, vibrant community." Read more stories from the Highlands and Islands Listen to news from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds Ardnamurchan is the most westerly part of mainland UK. ADVERTISEMENT Kilchoan sits on the south coast of the vast peninsula and has views across the Sound of Mull to the island of Mull. It has a population of about 150 people and is one of a small number of communities dotted around the edges of Ardnamurchan's mountainous interior. Kilchoan hit the headlines last year after one of its residents - wildlife cameraman and TV presenter Hamza Yassin - won 2022's BBC Strictly Come Dancing. With the community being a two-hour drive to the nearest large town - Fort William - it is often easier for residents to take a ferry to Mull for food shopping and accessing services. Ferry trip to Mull IMAGE SOURCE,OLIVIA WYNESS Image caption, Olivia Wyness's family taking a ferry on a shopping trip to Mull Map Kilchoan Primary has one composite class made up of P1 to P7 pupils. The school has one full-time teacher who is overseen by a cluster head, which is a head teacher who looks after a number of small schools. The primary has another teacher who visits one day a week, a pupil support assistant, admin support and a cook. The roll has increased in recent times after new families moved in, and it will rise to 16 pupils this August. Highland Council has offered a salary of more than £52,896 and a relocation package of up to £6,500. The deadline for applications is next Monday. Kilchoan Primary IMAGE SOURCE,GORDON HATTON/GEOGRAPH Image caption, The school has one full-time teacher and 15 pupils Parents say a potential alternative to securing a new teacher could be cover being provided from the nearest other school in Acharacle- about an hour's drive along winding, single-track roads. Local residents have shared the job advert on social media in the hope to getting it to as wide an audience as possible. The school is one of the community's focal points, with others including the community centre and local shop and post office, the Ferry Stores. A Facebook post by local coffee shop, Puffin Coffee, has had more than 7,000 shares. Owner - and mum-of-two - Olivia Wyness said: "We live on the very edge of west coast of Scotland on this peninsula. "We love it here. Love the outdoors and the views we've got. "We have a shop, a pub, a restaurant with rooms, a coffee shop and a community centre that really sustains the community." Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Parents said Ardnamurchan had lots to offer people interested in the outdoors and wildlife Kirstie Shirra, a climate campaigner who also runs a small bakery, said: "It's a great opportunity for the school to bring in a new teacher and someone new to the community, which is always welcome. "The children are all in there together. They are sort of like an extended family. "The big ones take on roles of mentoring the younger ones and they all muddle along together." Kirstie Shirra IMAGE SOURCE,KIRSTIE SHIRRA Image caption, Kirstie Shirra said the job offered the chance to join a small and vibrant community She added: "Geographically, Ardnamurchan is the most westerly point on the UK mainland. "It has so much to offer if you are into the outdoors - things like kayaking and walking - and wildlife. "From my office window, looking out, I have seen dolphins and eagles." Related Topics Kilchoan Acharacle More on this story Pupils' video appeal for new teacher Published 3 October 2017 Tongue Primary School 'Dear Mr Swinney, Can you help me?' Published 28 September 2017 Letter and Poppy Dennis From other local news sites Is Highland Council taking bullying and harassment allegations seriously? External Inverness Courier Caithness councillor praises road workers' response External John O' Groat Journal Six-figure drugs stash seized from flat in Inverness External Press and Journal It's an 'Ogre from the Arctic', says Wick weather pundit who also predicts hurricane winds for Caithness on Monday External John O' Groat Journal WATCH: Woman waits 9 hours outside Inverness's new Krispy Kreme shop in freezing cold temperatures for a year supply of free doughnuts External Ross-shire Journal Hero police dog Fergie praised for her help finding missing woman in Inverness External Inverness Courier Information about BBC links to other news sites Top Stories LIVE. ‘Chaos and confusion’ hindered police response to Uvalde Pakistan launches retaliatory strikes into Iran Published 39 minutes ago Man jailed for 50 years for defaming Thai monarchy Published 6 minutes ago Features Full list of nominees for the British Academy Film Awards Emma Stone in Poor Things Why these Taiwanese Americans flew home to vote (L-R) Jen Tsao, Chiaoning Su and Jason Hsu Israel accused of targeting civilians in deadly West Bank strike Hand of the four brothers' mother on graveside photo of one of her sons Iran shows missile capabilities with regional strikes File photo showing members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) standing next to a Kheibar Shekan (Castle Buster) ballistic missile during a rally in Tehran, Iran, on 29 April 2022 US Moon mission on course for fiery destruction Peregrine pictured before launch Step inside the 'pain cave', where rules are remade Courtney Dauwalter finishes UTMB in 2019 The European city where selfies are 'awkward' Girl in sunglasses sits on chair on train platform in Berlin FBI investigation after ex-A&F boss sex claims A composite graphic showing Mike Jeffries with a shopping bag featuring Abercrombie & Fitch branding US voters react to Trump's commanding Iowa win US voters react to Iowa results Elsewhere on the BBC The human touch AI can't replicate Suits Why it's more important to be kind than attractive Holding Hands The Star Trek episode that predicted a 2024 crisis Deep Space Nine Most Read 1 William visits Kate in hospital after surgery 2 Rare N Korea footage shows teens sentenced over K-drama 3 Pope says sexual pleasure is 'a gift from God' 4 Pakistan launches retaliatory strikes into Iran 5 Schwarzenegger detained over tax for luxury watch 6 8