Council appoints three head teachers for Inverness Primaries

The Highland Council has appointed three head teachers for Milton of Leys, Raigmore and Strathdearn Primary Schools in the Inverness area.

Robert Quigley, currently head teacher at Marybank and Strathgarve Primaries has been appointed as head teacher at the new school at Milton of Leys which is due to open in August 2011.

Fiona Shearer, currently head teacher at Daviot Primary and acting head teacher at Strathdearn Primary has been appointed as head teacher to Raigmore Primary; and Linda Cleworth who is currently depute head teacher at St Joseph’s Primary, Inverness has been appointed as head teacher at Strathdearn Primary. Linda takes up post at Strathdearn Primary on the 10th January 2011. Start dates have yet to be agreed by the Council for Robert and Fiona.

Prior to moving to the Highlands in 2003, Robert Quigley taught in Aberdeen (Donbank, Seaton and Gilcomstoun Primaries) for 5 years as well as undertaking a teacher exchange year in Ohio, USA. In the Highlands he has taught at Maryburgh Primary, Central Primary and had a short spell as deputy head teacher at Cauldeen Primary before being appointed as head teacher at Marybank Primary in Oct 2006. In August 2008, Marybank was clustered with Strathgarve Primary and he has been cluster head at both schools since.

Robert Quigley said: “I am extremely excited about the prospect of getting started with the job of ensuring that Milton of Leys is ready to open in August 2011 and provide a high quality of experience and education for all the pupils. I am absolutely ready for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the coming months and can't wait to get started working with the parents and children who will become the first pupils at Milton of Leys!”

Fiona Shearer started her teaching career at Kingussie Primary in 1996 and was there for 3 years. She then taught at Kirkhill Primary in 1999 and was there for 10 years altogether. During 2005 and 2006 she worked on secondment as Literacy Development Officer for the Highland Literacy Project for 14 months. Following this she returned to Kirkhill Primary then was acting depute head teacher at Dalneigh Primary for 6 months prior to starting as acting head teacher at Daviot in August 2008. She was appointed as head teacher at Daviot in March 2009 and has also been acting cluster head teacher at Strathdearn Primary since August this year.

Fiona said “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the new head teacher at Raigmore primary and I am really looking forward to getting to know and working with all the staff, parents and pupils when I take up the post. 

Linda Cleworth moved to Aviemore in 1988 and worked as a supply teacher and taught in most of the schools in the Badenoch and Strathspey area for the first 18 months.  In March 2000 she was appointed senior teacher at Grantown Primary School and thoroughly enjoyed her time there with responsibility for Mathematics across the school. At various stages between 2005 and 2009 Linda was depute head teacher and acting head teacher at St Joseph's RC Primary School in Inverness and acting head teacher at the Newtonmore/Dalwhinnie Primary cluster.

Linda said: “I am delighted to be appointed as head teacher of Strathdearn Primary School and am looking forward to taking up my position in a school which is so much a part of the local community. My family and I love living in such a beautiful part of the world and I feel very privileged to be allowed this opportunity to play my part in the local community.”