Protestant to head Catholic school

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EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 27 (UPI) -- A shortage of qualified candidates has led to a Protestant being named for the first time to head a Roman Catholic school in Scotland.

Morag McCreadie, a member of the Church of Scotland, is to serve as head teacher for two primary schools, St. Joseph's in Selkirk and St. Margaret's in Hawick, The Scotsman reported. The schools are 12 miles apart in the Borders region.

Officials with the Scottish Borders Council say her appointment is temporary, to last for no more than a year.

Catholic schools in Scotland became part of the state system in 1918 but no Protestant has headed a Catholic school since.

Michael McGrath heads the Scottish Catholic Education Council, which promotes Catholic schools.

"We are obviously keen to ensure a Catholic education, and I am sure the archdiocese will have taken that into account," he told The Scotsman.

Gillian McDonald, head of the parent-teacher association at St. Margaret's, expressed concerned that the appointment of a Protestant would "open the floodgates."