Parent shares what makes Stromness Academy special in hunt for new head

Stromnessians are fiercely proud of their town, history, community and school.

“West is best!” is a phrase often bandied about by those who hail from the West Mainland and Stromness Academy provides the secondary education for students from S1-6 from throughout the West of Orkney.

Parent Lianne Taylor has watched both her daughters mature with each passing year at the academy.

This year proved to be extra special for her daughter, Jayden, who was voted for, by her peers, to be the figurehead of the 2022 Stromness Shopping Week - an annual week-long community festival.

Lianne said: “Stromness Academy is set in beautiful surroundings with views of the harbour from most departments.  The community as well as the school staff are supportive and encouraging of the pupils who attend there and there are many opportunities offered both in and out-with the school day.

“There have been great activities offered within the school, from there being a giant moon in the theatre to a trip to Switzerland. A highlight for us has to be the involvement of the pupil prefects and house captains in S6. Both girls have been involved with this and it has given them new skills in organisation and community engagement. Stromness Shopping Week was the biggest of these for Jayden. Her experiences as a prefect, in youth work and in community drama all helped build the confidence, public speaking skills and commitment that she drew on to serve her community as Shopping Week Queen, an experience like no other that will stay with her forever.

“The community spirit within the school is great, the young people get opportunities to mix with other year groups during events like sports day and band competition which is always a fun end to a long term.

“For both girls, having Jane Hunter as their English teacher was fantastic, she knew the girls so well and took the time to make them feel like individuals within her class, encouraging when they felt they couldn’t do something and always nudging them to be the best they could be.

The school has had an unenviable job of reassuring both pupils and parents since returning after Covid, they have done everything they can and their communication and support throughout have been great.”

Lianne shared her thoughts as to why a good head teacher is so important.

“A strong approachable head teacher is so important for a school. They are the person, along with their teaching staff, that you put your child in the care of for the majority of the day. It is important that they are always striving for the best for the pupils, teachers and community and are adaptable to the everchanging landscape that young people negotiate. They are what holds a school together.

“It’s a fun but hard-working school, both pupils and teachers do their best to achieve a high standard of learning in a positive, friendly school.”

Find out more about Stromness here https://www.orkney.com/explore/stromness

Further information about the school and our activities can be found at https://www.facebook.com/stromnessacademy/ or on www.stromnessacademy.org.uk

The job advert can be viewed here: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/orkney-islands-council/jobs/head-teacher-stromness-academy-283860

For a discussion about the post, or for further information about living and working in Orkney, please contact Jane Partridge, Head Teacher/Service Manager on jane.partridge@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 25 October 2022.