Papay – a close-knit community with a “can-do” attitude searches for new Head Teacher

With a population of around 85, the people of Papa Westray, or Papay as the Orkney island is known locally, are respected for their resilience and they are keen to find a new Head Teacher to lead their school with the same “can-do” attitude.

Thanks to the Papay Development Trust, the Community Council, Papay Community Co-op and other residents a number of projects have helped breathe life back into the island – but they know that at the heart of their community is the island school.

The Head Teacher post is being advertised due to current Head Teacher Tim Ross’s recent appointment at Westray Junior High School. While recruitment continues Mr Ross oversees the school one day a week in support of an acting principal teacher, Karl Simpson.

Tim has only positive things to say about the Papay School.

“For anyone interested in education in Scotland today, the Papay School is a great place to be. It may be peedie, but it’s powerful, and it provides wonderful opportunities to work with a committed staff team. As a teacher, the potential for capitalising on Curriculum for Excellence, and autonomy for planning exciting teaching and learning is very rewarding.

“Westray and Papay are close communities and I hope to work with my successor on Papay to further strengthen these links.”

Papay has a roll of nine at present – four children in the nursery department and five within the primary section.

Karl has been a supply teacher at Papay for two years and recently stepped up in the acting principal role while a Head Teacher is found.

He said: “I have never felt more welcome in a school or a community. But that is an important part of whoever is successfully appointed – they must want to be part of the close-knit community. It’s an integral part of the role for that commitment to the residents as well.”

The pupils also enthuse about their school experience.

Ten-year-old Eva moved to the island with her family in October 2022 from Somerset at the other end of the country.

She left a 200-pupil school and a class of around 30 – and now finds herself being taught in a composite class of five, including herself, serving P1-P7.

Eva cannot praise her new life highly enough and the best bit – “I love the school!” she says.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly, not just at the school but the whole island. They were very supportive and helped a lot. The school is just like a small family. When I first walked into the classroom I was blown away as there’s so many cool things – a library with so many books, you have your own desk with compartments and a mini kitchen where you can make stuff.

“The teachers and staff here are very funny – they love to make jokes and they are smart. I enjoy the work they set us – it’s at your stage; they know what we need.”

The island may be small but it has a forward thinking attitude.

With a history stretching back thousands of years, Papay’s more recent past has seen plenty of positive projects bring a sense of vibrancy to the island. There’s an annual arts festival, a fantastic community shop, one of Orkney’s best hostels and a refurbished craft and heritage space, housed on the shore in the island’s former kelp store.

The island is rich in archaeology - including the Knap of Howar (older than the Pyramids), the restored ancient kirk of St Boniface, the remains of the medieval chapel at St Tredwell's Loch and chambered cairns on the Holm of Papay.

Papay is also special for birds and birdwatchers, particularly on the North Hill. A wealth of birds can be found on the island every day of the year.

The two-minute hop between Papa Westray and its neighbour Westray is the world's shortest scheduled flight.

Find out more about Papay at www.orkney.com or www.papawestray.co.uk

Further information about the school and our activities can be found on the Papay School Blog

View the job advert.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 5 March.