Highland Council welcomes three Head Teacher appointments across Highland

The Highland Council is pleased to announce the appointments of three Head Teachers at schools in the Inverness, Lochaber, and Badenoch and Strathspey areas.

The Head Teacher appointments are:

• Mairi Sutherland is Head Teacher for the Kilchuimen 3-18 Campus
• Louise Maclean is Head Teacher for the Ardgour Primary and Lochaline Primary School Cluster
• Fiona McKellar is Head Teacher for Dochgarroch, Teanassie and Tomnacross Primary schools

Welcoming the appointments, Chair of the Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson said: “I would like to congratulate each of our Head Teachers on their new appointments. I am sure staff, pupils, parents and the wider community of their respective schools are delighted with their new Head Teacher and will benefit greatly from the experience and knowledge each individual is bringing to their school.”

Ms Sutherland has been working as Acting Head Teacher at Kilchuimen 3-18 since January 2020.  Previously, she worked as a Principal Teacher of Science at Charleston Academy in Inverness. Ms Sutherland graduated with an Honours Degree in Science with Industrial Studies from Edinburgh University and went on to complete her teaching qualification in Chemistry and Science.

Ms Sutherland said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Head Teacher of Kilchuimen 3-18 and to return to serve my home community.  My own educational journey started here in Fort Augustus as a pupil in Primary 1 and I look forward to the chance to work alongside the pupils, parents, staff and wider community building on the solid foundations and enhancing all the children’s learning”.

Ms Maclean is currently Acting Head Teacher at Ardgour Primary School, and previously taught in Ardgour and Strontian Primary schools. She also has a range of teaching experiences from nursery aged pupils to P7 in a variety of schools in South Ayrshire. 

Ms Maclean said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Cluster Head Teacher for Ardgour and Lochaline. I am really looking forward to continuing to work with the pupils, staff and community of Ardgour and connecting with the pupils, staff and community in Lochaline, who have already made me feel very welcome. I can’t wait for the opportunities that the cluster will provide for both schools”. 

Mrs McKellar has held a number of positions within The Highland Council. She has previously worked as Head Teacher, and the Depute Head, at Kinmylies Primary. She has also worked as Depute Head at Inshes Primary School. Ms McKellar is a part of the team which delivers training in Coaching approaches across the authority. She will begin her appointment this summer.

Mrs McKellar said: “I am very much looking forward to joining the teams at Dochgarroch, Teanassie and Tomnacross. I am very aware of the challenges we will face as we engage in the process of recovery after such a difficult year. I feel privileged to be joining the schools at this point and I hope that our pupils, staff, parents and communities will share my sense of excitement and anticipation as we plan our next steps together.”