Achiltibuie and Lochinver Primary School secure acting headteacher in time for new term
Achiltibuie and Lochinver Primary schools have secured themselves an acting headteacher, after multiple unsuccessful recruitment drives to fill the role.
The new teacher for the approximately 41-pupil cluster, William Stephen, has experience working at a similarly small and rural primary school on the Isle of Rum.
Highland Council first launched the search for a new headteacher for the Lochinver and Achiltibuie Primary School cluster back in September 2023, followed an attempt in February, and most recently another try in March with the parent council campaigning in hopes of being third time lucky — but unfortunately parents believe the recruitment drive was unsuccessful again.
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Now the Highland Council have announced there will be a new candidate to take acting headteacher Aileen MacDonald’s place in time for the new term in August.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “William is taking up the acting headteacher post for Achiltibuie and Lochinver from the start of the new session. William has visited and met with the previous acting headteacher, Aileen Macdonald.”
Having previously been the headteacher for Rum Primary School and Rum Primary Nursery, which had a combined school roll of eight pupils, William is no stranger to a small school.
Lizzie Williams, chairperson of Achiltibuie Primary Parent Council, previously said: “Young families are vital to the community, and having a thriving school is really important to attract families to live and move here. Without a strong school, you’re not a viable community, and having a good headteacher is really key for this.”
