Paired headteacher arrangement

Date Added - 19/08/09

Two Speyside primary schools are to share the same headteacher on a permanent basis following a successful trial.

Mary Smith has been in charge of both Inveravon and Knockando for more than a year.

The pilot has proved so successful that councillors have agreed that the paired headteacher arrangement should become permanent.

Two other Moray primaries – Glenlivet and Tomintoul – have already adopted the paired headteacher model.

The vast majority of staff and parents at Inveravon and Knockando have been extremely positive about the move.

Moray Council’s head of educational development services, George Sinclair, said Mrs Smith herself was “extremely optimistic” and excited by the progress that had been made in the schools during the year-long pilot.

“The evaluations clearly show that she is very highly regarded and is providing high quality leadership for the schools,” he said.

Councillor Jeff Hamilton, chairman of Moray Council’s children and young people’s services committee, said: “Mary Smith has done a very good job of overseeing the two schools and there was no hesitation among members of the committee in deciding that the arrangement should become permanent.”