EAST Lothian’s newest secondary school has its first headteacher.
Gail Preston will take the helm at the Wallyford Learning Campus, which is due to open its doors in August next year.
Mrs Preston, currently a depute headteacher at Dalkeith High School, will be responsible for establishing the new secondary school community at Wallyford, including the appointment of further staff.
A start date has not yet been confirmed, although it is expected to be early in the new school session 2022/23.
The new school will take pupils living in the catchment areas of Wallyford Primary School and Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School in Musselburgh.
It will have a projected future pupil roll of more than 1,000.
Elsewhere, Debbie Mercer, previously a depute headteacher at Cockenzie Primary School, has been appointed as the permanent headteacher at Yester Primary School.
Mrs Mercer replaced Heather Williams as acting headteacher at the school in Gifford while Mrs Williams was on secondment to another local authority area.
Following Mrs Williams’ permanent move, East Lothian Council advertised for a new headteacher for Yester.
Finally, Viv Short has been appointed acting headteacher at Whitecraig Primary School.
The school, which recently was praised by Education Scotland for its work with families during Covid-19, was previously led by Fiona Macartney who moved to a role within the council’s central education service.
Mrs Short’s substantive role is as a depute headteacher at Windygoul Primary School in Tranent.
As acting headteacher, she will lead Whitecraig Primary School and nursery class during the construction of the new building.
Councillor Fiona Dugdale, cabinet member for education, families and children’s services, welcomed the appointments.
She said: “I am pleased to be able to announce these appointments and extend my congratulations to Mrs Preston, Mrs Mercer and Mrs Short.
“I know that the appointments at Yester and Whitecraig will be welcomed by staff, families and learners and that Mrs Mercer and Mrs Short will be assets to the communities.
“Mrs Preston’s appointment is an exciting time in the journey towards the opening of the new Wallyford Learning Campus.
“It is a key step in preparing pupils, parents and the wider community for the move into the new building next year.”
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