Seven news headteachers needed by Borders schools

Two of the region’s high schools, at Selkirk and Hawick, need new heads, and a further five are required by primary schools.

The primaries recruiting for heads are those at Ayton and Reston in Berwickshire, Burnfoot Community School in Hawick, Langlee Primary in Galashiels, Parkside Primary and Howdenburn Primary in Jedburgh and the new Leader Valley School at Earlston for children with additional support needs.

Three posts for depute headteachers also need filling – for St Ronan’s Primary in Innerleithen and Walkerburn Primary, for Trinity Primary in Hawick and for St Boswells and Newtown primaries.

The £63,000-a-year job on offer at 400-student Selkirk High is to replace Wilma Burgon after she leaves in the summer, and the £75,000-per-annum vacancy being advertised at 930-student Hawick High is to replace Kevin McClory following his resignation in December.

Having a joint head, on an annual salary of £58,000, is a new move for 140-pupil Huntlyburn Primary and 200-pupil Parkside Primary, though the latter’s head currently also oversees the 32 pupils attending Ancrum Primary.

An acting head is being recruited for Ancrum Primary to take charge until the end of the summer term, and a rethink will then be held on how it is run.

The Earlston school role, also paying £58,000 a year, is a new one, the £1.7m Croft Park school having just been officially opened this month, by the Duke of Buccleuch, Richard Scott, also lord-lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.

It replaces special needs classes previously run at Wilton Primary in Hawick and St Ronan’s Primary.

Scottish Borders Council is holding this week’s recruitment event on Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, at Galashiels Transport Interchange.

Friday’s session will run from 2pm to 4pm and Saturday’s from 10am to 2pm.

Teachers thinking of seeking promotion will have the chance to speak to existing heads and council bosses to find out more about what the roles entail.

Donna Manson, the council’s service director for children and young people, said: “This is a council which is deeply committed to ensuring that all children and young people in the Scottish Borders are given the best possible opportunities in life in terms of academic achievement, vocational experience and social and emotional development.

“What we are looking for is dedicated professionals who are ambitious for the future, not only for their own career development but also for the children and young people of the Borders.

“This is an exciting time for education in our region, and I would encourage anyone who would like to be part of our vision to come along and talk to us about the range of opportunities that we have available.”

More information about teaching vacancies is available by emailing [email protected] or at www.scotborders.gov.uk/jobs