A model designed to tackle difficulties recruiting head teachers for the Borders’ Roman Catholic schools has so far not attracted any suitable candidates, writes Kenny Paterson.
Scottish Borders Council has admitted that its initial advertisement for the “superhead” post for the region’s four RC primary schools has drawn a blank.
Councillors agreed to the controversial single head teacher proposal in January.
An SBC spokeswoman said: “The post will be re-advertised in the very near future with the aim to have someone in place for the start of the new school session in August.
“In the meantime, senior education officer Karen Gray is acting as head teacher to St Margaret’s in Hawick, St Joseph’s in Selkirk and St Margaret’s in Galashiels.
“Kate Brown will continue in her post as head teacher at Halyrude in Peebles until the end of the current school session.”
Speaking in January, executive member for education Sandy Aitchison said the successful candidate faced a challenging but not monumental task.
But the model was questioned by the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who believed it should have been introduced on a pilot basis.
Before he quit, Cardinal O’Brien wrote: “The reason for this suggestion emanates mainly because of the challenge posed by the very significant distances between the four schools and the unique nature of the position.”