Teacher of English

GAIRLOCH HIGH SCHOOL

The school is situated within the Parish of Gairloch on the western seaboard of Ross and Cromarty and is 70 miles from the city of Inverness with very good road links.

Gairloch is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and as a school community staff use every opportunity to encourage pupils to participate in activities which take advantage of this and create a stimulating learning environment.

A new school was built in 1994 and the community benefitted from the educational, library, leisure and sporting facilities which were provided. Pupils access ICT through chromebooks, laptops and other devices to support their learning. 

With a catchment area of over 400 square miles, the school currently draws approximately 130 pupils from 5 Associated Primary Schools: 

· Bualnaluib (Aultbea)

· Gairloch (English and Gàidhlig Medium), 

· Kinlochewe 

· Poolewe 

· Shieldaig (Torridon)

The current staffing complement is 26 (full-time and part-time) teaching and support staff. The Parent Council and Parent Forum is extremely supportive of the work of the school.

In October 2017, a team of inspectors from Education Scotland visited Gairloch High School.  The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. 

· The school has set a long-term vision which involved staff, young people and parents in securing better outcomes for their school. 

· The flexibility and commitment of teachers in providing a range of subjects so that young people benefit from an increasingly broad education. 

· Young people’s enthusiasm and engagement in a range of planned experiences that support their wellbeing. This is resulting in young people feeling cared for, safe, happy and respected. Their sense of responsibility is contributing to strong and courteous relationships which enhance school life. 

The school is fully comprehensive offering as full a range of courses as possible in S1-S3 BGE, as well as SQA National Qualifications throughout S4-S6. We strive to meet the academic needs of our pupils, and this includes offering Advanced Higher level in several subjects. In session 2017/2018 one-fifth of the S5 cohort achieved 5 Higher passes at ‘A’. Local and national traditions have always been an important feature of the school. Through curricular and extra-curricular opportunities the school strives to design learning pathways through the medium of Gaelic and English to meet the needs of each individual pupil.  Staff make provision for additional qualifications, for example, offering vocational courses in Outdoor Education, Higher Politics and A Level Geology. Pupils are encouraged to have flexible timetables to suit their needs and to do this have been accessing courses through the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Highland Council Virtual Schools.

Extra-curricular opportunities created by staff for pupils are extensive. The school has achieved the Sports Scotland Gold Sports Award (only one of three schools in Highland Council). Pupils excel in indoor rowing competitions and are very active in a range of sports including badminton, basketball, indoor climbing, football and mountain biking contributing to a positive ethos through House activities. The school has a major commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme with pupils achieving at achieving Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. School trips are arranged to give pupils a broad experience. There is an annual outdoor education trip to the Cairngorms to allow pupils to complete their John Muir Award. A ski trip to the French Alps, Ocean Youth Trust voyages, Outward Bound trips. Scottish field trips and cultural visits to Berlin and participating in the Lessons for Auschwitz have provided pupils with many opportunities to broaden their horizons. The school has developed a partnership with Mlozi School in Malawi by reciprocal pupil and staff visits.

Music, in particular traditional music, features highly in experiences for pupils. Instrumental tuition in fiddle, bagpipes and drumming is available and pupils have achieved successfully both individually and in groups in representing the school in the Schools Pipe Band Competition and the Inverness Music Festival. High School pupils make up most of the players in The Gairloch Pipe Band and in the traditional music group ‘C for Craic’ all are school pupils. Both groups are sought after for performances in the community and further afield.  Pupils have excelled in the national Gaelic Media (FilmG) competitions over successive years.