OBE for Highland Director of Education Culture and Sport

The Highland Council’s Director of Education Culture and Sport, Bruce Robertson, has been awarded an OBE for his services to education in the Queen’s New Year Honours’ List.

Mr Robertson has been at the helm of education services in the Highlands since 1998 and is currently President of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, and Chairman of the Scottish Committee of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Mr Robertson said: “It is a great honour to be recognised in this manner. It has been a privilege to have spent my working life in education in the north and north-east of Scotland. I particularly want to acknowledge the staff and members of The Highland Council, who have been so supportive to me in my role as director since 1998.”

Married with two grown up daughters, Mr Robertson was recently appointed
Director of Education and Recreation at Aberdeenshire Council and takes up his new post in March.

He joined The Highland Council as Director of Education in August 1998 from his position of Head of Education Services with Aberdeenshire Council. He became Director of Education Culture and Sport in October 2001.

Earlier this year, the Council won the Education Authority of the Year Award at the Scottish Education Awards.

Mr Robertson began his career as a teacher in history and modern studies and taught at Aboyne, Bridge of Don and Kemnay  Academies  before being appointed assistant rector at Westhill Academy, Aberdeen, in 1983. Four years later, he was appointed depute rector at the Gordon Schools, Huntly.

In 1990, he moved into education administration, joining Grampian Regional Council’s Education Department, later serving as Depute Director of Education.