Search resumes for teacher to Muck in at island school with just eight pupils

A NEW move is being made to find a £50,000-a-year teacher who can literally Muck in on an idyllic, but remote, Hebridean island with just eight children.

The school on Muck has struggled with a succession of teachers in recent years. In the latest search, three shortlisted candidates recently visited the island, but none has been appointed.

Instead, Highland Council is to re-advertise in the New Year the principal teacher post which had been filled just over a year ago by Helen Love. Her appointment came after a Facebook campaign by parents. Eight people then sought to become a teacher for what was the school’s previous roll of nine children.

The roll has now dropped to five in primary and three in nursery.

All who applied to fill the vacant principal teacher’s job travelled to see what island life was like. They were also made aware they will have to literally Muck in with the community.

Mary Fichtner-irvine, co-chairwoman of Muck Primary School Parent Council, said there had been “ups and downs” in finding a teacher who will stay for the long haul.

She said: “None of the three candidates who came recently were suitable. Helen Love stayed for just over a year and we are positive that we will find the right teacher. We had a teacher, Eileen Henderson, who taught here for 11 years. It is about finding the right one.

“We are going through a bit of a difficult period, but there are ups and downs to island life – that’s normal. We want somebody who is an excellent teacher, who loves the lifestyle, enjoys being on Muck and loves teaching the kids.

“We are hopeful that we will find the right person and have somebody in post by February, but it is a difficult time of the year.”

Mrs Fichtner-irvine said cluster head Louise Taylor – who is also responsible for neighbouring Isle of Eigg Primary – will step in until a permanent teacher is appointed.

She said the island had a current population of 45 and was “thriving” – but it told prospective teachers of the problems as well as the many good things about living on the small west coast island.

“It is important to get somebody who can take to island life,” said Mrs Fichtner-irvine.

The £45,645-a-year salary for the post is also boosted by higher rate remote allowance – currently £2,841 per annum – and distant islands allowance, of £2,157-a-year.

Mrs Love is believed to have left after being promoted to a headship on the mainland.

She came to Muck after the isle’s previous teacher quit less than two years after taking up the post.

When previous teacher Laura Marriner joined the school on the tiny island she attracted national headlines and even started a blog.

Mrs Marriner started at Muck Primary in November 2016 after a social media campaign for a new teacher was launched.

The reasons for Mrs Marriner’s departure had not been revealed but are believed to be over a change of personal circumstances.