Gaelic school advertises head role for 8th time

And the council has still to decide whether applicants for the top job at the £4m Inverness primary will be required to speak Gaelic.

The school, known as Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis in Gaelic, had its acting head walk out in November after she failed for the second time

to get a permanent post.

Highland Council now plans to advertise the role again at the start of the new term.

In November 2012 acting head Annika Jansson left the £48,000-a-year job after failing to secure a permanent position.

Campaigners had called for the new headteacher to be a gaelic speaker, but Ms Jansson cannot speak the language.

A senior council source has said: “It’s getting ridiculous – how are we supposed to hire a new teacher and a new head teacher? Eight vacancies later and we’re still not seeing the end of the tunnel.”

A Highland Council spokesman said consultations were ongoing with parents about whether the advert would stipulate applicants should be fluent.

He said: “Once the news session starts, having cnsulted with parents , we will advertise the post.

“At the moment we are still in discussion over the wording of the advert.

“We should have the wording agreed from August 20.”

He said the current acting head teacher of Inverness Gaelic School, James Lyon, was likely to remain in post until at least mid-October.

The Highland school opened in 2007 and was the first purpose-built Gaelic school in Scotland.

The only full-time teacher left the position in April 2009 – a position that has remained empty has there has only been three acting-head teachers in the role.