Highland Council is advertising yet again to try to find a permanent head teacher for its Gaelic primary in Inverness.
The flagship school is seeking a fluent Gaelic speaker, who can also read and write the language.
It is the latest bid to find a permanent head teacher for the school, which has a troubled history in recruitment for the senior position.
The role has been advertised at least 10 times by the local authority since the primary – the first purpose-built Gaelic school in Scotland – opened in 2007.
Applicants have until April 6 to apply for the position at Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis, which carries a salary of £51,882.
The current head teacher’s temporary secondment is coming to an end.
Annie MacPhee is a native Gaelic speaker from Lewis and has taught in Gaelic and English in the Highlands and the Western Isles.
She was seconded from her post as support teacher at Glenurquhart and Beauly primaries in October last year and is expected to leave the Gaelic school in June.
Yesterday, Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said it was time to relax the criteria in order to attract more candidates.
He said: “In my view, I do not think is absolutely imperative that the head teacher be fluent in Gaelic provided that they are willing to learn the language.
“The primary objective is running the school, not teaching.”
Janet Macleod, a fluent Gaelic speaker from Skye, was the first head but left to pursue other projects in 2009.
She returned to the school last year in an acting capacity after the council struggled to find a suitable replacement for James Lyon, a former SPL referee who held the job for less than a year.
Parents have raised concerns about head teachers not being fluent Gaelic speakers.
Annika Janson from Sweden, who was acting head at the school, was interviewed for the job in November 2012 but was not appointed despite being the only candidate.
This led to her leaving and being given another teaching post.
Her lack of Gaelic fluency split the school community, and there was similar disquiet when Mr Lyon was appointed, as he was also someone who had learned Gaelic later in life.