Picture: Morgan Riddell. Image No. 041896
WHILE staff shortages have often hogged the headlines when it comes to education in Moray, Buckie Community High School have started the school year by rolling out the welcome mat for no fewer than 12 new teachers. Taking their places in their respective departments for the autumn term are: Gary Harper, PT maths; Andrew Garner, modern languages; Gemma Geddes, science technician; Stewart Clelland, acting PT philosophy and religious, moral and philosophical studies; Jo Roberts, home economics; Kimberley Young, NQT English; Kay Copland, music; Charlotte Bye-Jensen, technical; Charlotte Stewart, Chemistry; Rachael Smith, PT geography; Susan Rowley, English; Bill Young, business subjects. Welcoming them on board was BHCS rector Neil Johnson. He told the Advertiser: “I’m delighted to be able to welcome so many new staff to Buckie High this session. “Considering the ongoing issues with staff recruitment across public services in the north-east, I am very pleased to have more staff starting in August to fill vacancies we have had for some time. Something that keeps coming up when we attract people
from outside Moray is the excellent quality of life here – and we can all do our bit to raise the many positive things about living and working in Moray.” It is a case of return of the native for Ms Smith, who left the school as a student a decade ago. She said: “I’m very excited to be given this opportunity to teach here. “As PT I aim to make outdoor education and sustainability in our community a key priority.” Returning to the fold is Ms Geddes, who comes back to BCHS after a spell at Keith Grammar School. “I’m looking forward to the challenges of working in a large community school again. “Everyone’s so friendly and supportive, it’s great to be back again.” Mr Harper is a well-known face having taught there for nine years. He commented: “I’m looking forward to getting involved with the ASG primaries on numeracy. “In the near future, I’ll be hoping to develop strong links between the department and our local businesses.” Over in HE, Ms Roberts is a trained dietician with third sector experience working with food poverty. “I have a passion for helping young people have healthy, independent lives and this has taken me to Buckie High,” she continued.
For Ms Young, who hails from Elgin, a return to Moray was always on the cards after studying in Dundee and Aberdeen. She said: “My intention was to come back to Moray to teach. I wanted to work in Moray so I would have the opportunity to maybe make a difference and help within the community which gave me so much.” Her short time at BCHS has already been a very positive experience for former banking advisor and part-time music teacher Kay Copland. “Everyone is eager to help and provide support,” she said. Mrs Bye-Jensen brings with her a wealth of experience from across the globe, including Denmark, Qatar, Portsmouth and Oxford. She said: “I’m really excited to be teaching technical at Buckie as I’m passionate about delivering skills and developing practical subjects everyone can access. “So far I’m thoroughly enjoying teaching at Buckie and have found the students to be welcoming, good fun and enthusiastic.” Mr Clelland comes to Buckie on the back of a three-year stint with the Erasmus+ project in Dundee where he explored religious education and diversity in Austria, England, Germany, Scotland and Sweden. “I’m very much looking forward to bringing all I’ve learned to Buckie High and to getting to know all my students, their parents and the wider community.” Originally from Dunoon, Mr Garner joins the team at Buckie High from Eyemouth High School near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Learning Doric is one of his priorities, he said. “I’m looking forward to trying Cullen skink soup while I’m in the north-east and I’ve noticed how different the pupils’ accents/dialects are here – I need to learn some Doric!” Ms Stewart’s journey has taken her from her native Lossiemouth to Guildford, where she worked as a senior scientist for a pharmaceutical
company. However, 15 years volunteering with the RAF cadets saw her decide to retrain as a teacher, going on to spend three years at Farnham Heath End School in Surrey. She added: “I was excited when I saw the job advert for Buckie High School as this gave me an opportunity to return to Moray.” Rugby fan Bill Young from Jedburgh has swapped Dyce Academy in Aberdeen for Buckie. He said: “I’d heard a lot of good things about Buckie High and how it was a nice place to work so when a full-time vacancy came up I applied. “I’ve really been enjoying it so far.”