Life on Britain’s most distant inhabited island as job with £58k wage opens up
The most remotely inhabited island in the Britain is looking for a principal to lead a school that holds a measly two students, the position has a handsome salary of £58k per year
The UK’s most remotely inhabited island is looking for a teacher for a class of just three pupils, for a total salary of 58k per year.
Fair Isle, off Scotland, is located between the Shetland and Orkney archipelagos and holds a school with a miniscule two students attending – with a third younger student due to start in the near future.
The island holds a 60 person strong community and was the host of the Fair Isle’s world renowned bird observatory; a leading research hub for the monitoring of migratory bird species. A fire burnt down the observatory in 2019, however after an extensive rebuild it is expected to re-open in 2025.
Shetland Island Council has said they are looking for an “enthusiastic, committed and motivational” principal teacher to join the “well resourced” non-denominational school and take up a full time role “at the heart of the dynamic and welcoming Fair Isle community”.
The principal position holds a £57,742 per annum salary with a distant islands allowance of £2,742 and the application states that successful candidates will have qualities, such as, vision, energy, intuitive good communication skills and self discipline. The school is led by a shared head teacher from Sandwick Junior High School and the current school staff include, a singular supply teacher, one assistant clerical assistant and one supervisory assistant and instructors.
Chole Kerr, quality improvement officer, at the local authority, has said: “This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the life of Fair Isle School. Staff families and the wider community work together to embrace the real life experiences the community offers and to help every child achieve their full potential.”
Candidates must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland and either be a member or will be required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme before a formal offer of employment can be made.
The full time 35 hour a week position was advertised on the public sector jobs portal, myjobscotland, and applications close on January 6 2025.
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