Teachers are being encouraged to move to the island after the pandemic has made it harder than ever for schools to retain and attract staff from elsewhere.

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture will be advertising via the Department for Enterprise’s Locate website, which so far, the DESC said, has attracted interest from more than 100 teachers from the UK.

Ballakermeen High School sixth form director Richard Karran will feature in the recruitment campaign. He returned to the island after 13 years in Nottingham.

He’s quoted as saying ’the facilities in our school, and indeed every state school in the island, are fantastic and the envy of so many schools in the UK.’

Headteacher of BHS Adrienne Burnett commented: ’Teacher recruitment on the island has been a challenge for a number of years, mirroring the difficulties schools in the UK have been facing.

’For a number of years, all five secondary schools and University College IoM have been developing alternative routes, enabling us to train and recruit "home grown" teachers.

’Travel has not been possible for over 12 months and I’ve had to adapt and find new ways to recruit. Staff have key points in the year when resignations are traditionally tendered. The main deadline is not until May 31.’

She added: ’I do wonder if lockdown will make teachers reconsider their careers, but I believe that is true of all professions.’

Head teacher of St Ninian’s High School Chris Coole said: ’Traditionally we have a very stable staffing with only small numbers coming and going each year.

’At the moment things look similar this year but there is still another month or so before we really know as the end of May is the deadline for staff to hand in their notice if they are intending on moving elsewhere.

’The concern this year is we may see more staff than normal choose to move due to several reasons: lockdowns and border restrictions has meant many young teachers recruited from UK or Ireland haven’t been able to visit friends and family and may choose to relocate closer to them as the year has been really difficult for them in this respect.

’Older staff close to retirement may choose to retire as the increased demands of the role in schools and time they have had to reflect over the year may see them choose to step away from teaching.

’The third concern is the demands placed on middle and senior leaders with regard to exam grading and as such may see some of them choose to either relinquish their roles or we may find it difficult to recruit in these roles.’

Meanwhile retired headteacher Annette Baker thinks DESC needs to do more to retain teachers.

’Even though I have only been retired at Christmas, I’m not sure of the exact situation re recruitment in schools.

’I believe though it continues to be very challenging in secondary at least from what I know,’ she said.

’For what it’s worth I think that the government needs to prioritise attracting high-quality professionals to front line services in education.

’To attract [teachers] here they need to be paid appropriately to be able to live comfortably on an island where house prices are high and where the cost of living relative to the UK is higher.’

She added: ’At the moment I doubt people would want to relocate to a place which has shown itself willing to cut people off from close family in the UK for over a year, unwilling to proactively find ways to ensure that everyone’s right to family life is upheld. I understand we’re living in unprecedented times, but I believe no other place in the world apart from Bolivia has stopped close family coming home with appropriate safeguards.’

In response to the Manx Independent, the DESC said: ’DESC is focused on developing wellbeing and a supportive culture across the organisation. This includes providing development opportunities for staff to further their career within the organisation.

’There are a number of initiatives in place including a housing allowance and a percentage of travelling expenses paid.’