Children in plea for Gaelic teacher after no one applies for job
Pupils appealed on YouTube for a teacher to come to Oban, the 'best town in the world'.
"This is the best town in the world", rattles off a primary pupil in rudimentary Gaelic, pointing across a picturesque Oban skyline.
Ten and 11-year-old pupils from Rockfield Primary School have directed a short film showcasing their local area as part of a plea for a new Gaelic teacher.
The school have advertised the full time post several times over the last few months with a starting salary of £22,416 per year, but no one applied for the position.
Pupils have taken matters into their own hands, issuing their plea on YouTube - which has garnered hundreds of views in just a few days.
The pupils made the video as part of a school project and were involved in every stage of the process, from planning through to editing the final product.
Not only does the clip feature the town's stunning views and amenities (the cathedral, McCaig's Tower and views of Kerrera) but it also showcases the talents of the pupils themselves - be it playing the bagpipes or gymnastics.
Two pupils interview their grandmother in one segment, asking about Oban's history and what makes it a great place to live. On school facilities the grandmother says "everything is so modern", while praising the town's boats, trains and ferry services.
When asked whether they enjoyed Gaelic classes, the girls reply: "Yes because not everyone gets this opportunity."
Argyll and Bute councillor Rory Colville said: "What a fantastic video the pupils from Rockfield have produced. Showing initiative like this is something everyone should applaud and I commended them for their efforts.
"Teacher recruitment is an issue across Scotland and something that Argyll and Bute Council has been working very hard to address. We have taken numerous steps to attract teachers to the area and, in conjunction with Argyll College UHI, we have supported the introduction a new post graduate diploma in education to 'grow our own' teachers. This course is for both Gaelic and English students.
"The community of Tiree was very successful when a similar campaign was carried out to recruit a head teacher on the island. I really hope that someone out there sees the YouTube video for Rockfield and feels it's the right job for them. Rockfield is a wonderful school with fantastic pupils and teachers. I truly hope that this appeal works."
Earlier this year it was predicted that interest in Gaelic would rise with the success of TV drama Outlander, produced by Sony and Starz.
The programme's dialect coach Carol Ann Crawford, who works alongside Scottish stars Sam Heughan and Gary Lewis, said "What a loss it would be if those words were no longer alive."
A 2011 census showed that 87,100 people aged three and over in Scotland (less than 2% of the population) had some Gaelic language skills. Of those people: