We’re recruiting a new Head Teacher to lead the new Wallyford learning campus, which is due to open in August 2023.
At the heart of the new £47.2m facility will be a new secondary school, which is required to meet the needs of an expanding school roll in the area.
This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic and experienced individual to play a key role in establishing the new school, which is ultimately expected to accommodate more than 1,000 pupils at the heart of a growing community.
Existing Head Teachers in East Lothian are looking forward to welcoming a new colleague on board.
“East Lothian is a beautiful county,” says Head Teacher Paul Reynolds, who joined Ross High School in Tranent eight years ago. He was previously a Depute Head Teacher in the Highlands and saw many benefits to joining the team as a Head Teacher in East Lothian.
“We wanted to live in a rural area with close access to a city. East Lothian really has a lot to offer. It’s a very nice place to live and work, with fantastic communities.”
Supportive environment
Paul highlights a particularly supportive environment within the council, its education service and amongst peers.
“There is a lot of good communication and close working,” he explains. “There is very positive collegiality with Head Teacher colleagues and the support network which we offer each other – something that has actually been strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With currently six secondary Head Teachers and six clusters, you work closely together. One of the great things about being a Head Teacher in East Lothian is that you have a role at the heart of the community, which is a real honour. The community entrust you to serve local families and to develop young people. You have a responsibility to make sure they are safe and cared for, and develop into successful young people with good character. That’s an incredible, yet enjoyable, responsibility to have.”
Paul says that no two days are the same and, working closely with his school team there is a sharp focus on helping to prepare young people for adulthood and the world of work.
“I also really enjoy helping staff to develop,” says Paul. “Professional development is essential and our children and young people also benefit from this.
On appointment to the role, the new Head Teacher at Wallyford will initially be based at Musselburgh Grammar School during session 2022-23, engaging with learners and families who will transition to the new school and working alongside a range of stakeholders. The successful candidate will work to create a vision for the new school that reflects the needs and aspirations of the community whilst leading the recruitment of staff.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” says Paul. “It will be a really exciting prospect to lead a school from its inception and it will be an incredible feeling to welcome young people into the building on day one.”
Councillor Fiona Dugdale, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education and Children’s Services, said:
“I’m very pleased to see the process to recruit a Head Teacher for the learning campus get underway. This is a very significant project for the local community and we are looking to attract high-calibre candidates who can play a key role in establishing the new school. It’s exciting to see the building take shape and I look forward to continuing to follow the progress of this important project.”
Facilities
The new facility will combine secondary education with specialist provision for young people with severe and complex needs, a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) centre, community and sports facilities. Works are progressing well and expected to complete in Summer 2023.
The project is receiving support from the Scottish Government and is part of Phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).
East Lothian Council’s development partner Hub South East is undertaking project delivery and has appointed Morrison Construction as the contractor. Both organisations have developed a number of high quality facilities in the county including the award-winning Wallyford Primary School that neighbours the secondary school site.