SEVEN headteacher posts are now vacant in the Borders, it has been revealed.

The council is currently recruiting for five primary school heads – at Lilliesleaf, Priorsford, Coldstream, Eyemouth and Duns primary schools.

Additionally, there are headteacher vacancies at Earlston and Hawick high schools.

The vacancies are the result of retirements, post holders being promoted or moving on to another local authority role.

Now Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is launching a recruitment drive to identify future educational leaders.

Recruitment events will take place on Saturday (September 9) and Friday, September 15 at Inspire Learning: Tweedbank – SBC’s new centre of Excellence, which provides a digital training space where equal access to technology is available to young people, families, business and organisations.

The council “is keen to hear from dedicated and enthusiastic professionals looking to be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking department”.

The session on Saturday will run from 10-2pm while the following Friday one is from 2-4pm.

READ MORE: Former fire-hit Borders factory set to be flattened to make way for a car park

Candidates will have the chance to speak in depth to existing heads and senior managers to find out more about what it is like to be a leader within SBC Education and the strategic plan that is in place to support all learners.

Headteacher Kirsty Hadden relocated to the Borders last year to take up a post at Burgh Primary School in Galashiels.

She said: “I have been in the Borders for over a year now. I’ve found the local authority to be very welcoming and supportive, giving me lots of opportunities to be involved collegiately at school, cluster and authority level. Support is always on hand from my approachable cluster of headteachers and the ethos of being one team is felt at all levels.

“The families and staff at the school I lead have been very welcoming and I settled very quickly into the role. Living and working here has completely changed my work-life balance for the better.

“The community spirit and Borders lifestyle is ideal for balancing time with my family, including my young children, and events in the local community.”

Councillor Leagh Douglas, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for education and lifelong learning, added: “Scottish Borders Council is deeply committed to ensuring that all children and young people in the region are given the best possible opportunities in life in terms of academic achievement, vocational experience and social and emotional development.

“What we are looking for is dedicated professionals who are ambitious for the future, not only for their own career development but also for the children and young people of the Borders.

“This is an exciting time for education in our region and I would encourage anyone who would like to be part of our vision to come along and talk to us about the range of opportunities that we have available.”

More information about current teaching vacancies at SBC is available from www.scotborders.gov.uk/jobs