School Inspections Scotland Conference

Gavin Calder, Chief Executive, has been in educational leadership since 1999, having spent the last 16 years as a headteacher. Prior to joining Harmeny In April 2024. Gavin was the headteacher at Edinburgh Academy’s Junior School and has been at the forefront of the independent school sector’s understanding and Integration of ever-developing best practice, including those with additional support needs. He Is also a board member of the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS). While at Lomond School and Loretto School, Gavin has worked closely with local authorities who placed children from looked-after backgrounds in the boarding houses. The boarding facilities in both schools were praised for their high level of care and Individual attention by the Care Commission (now the Care Inspectorate).

Gavin Is passionate about sports, music and Outdoor Education. He Is a trained coach and the Chair of Triathlon Scotland. He also holds the role of Chair of the Board for the Scottish Outdoor Education Centres.

David is a former pupil of Dunoon Grammar School, returning to take up the post of Head Teacher in 2013. He has since led the school to a number of national and international accolades, including the JA Europe Entrepreneurial School Award and the World’s Best School for Community collaboration award. His own children attend the school.

Scott started his teaching career at Cumbernauld High School as a Teacher of History and Modern Studies, moving to Kirkintilloch High School in 2007 as Principal Teacher of History and Modern Studies. Appointed Depute HT at Kirkintilloch in 2011 moving to St Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch as DHT in 2013. Appointed Head Teacher of Alva Academy in 2018.

He is an Associate Assessor with Education Scotland working as part of their visiting inspection teams and a Columba 1400 tutor leading elements of the Head Teach Leadership Academy. Also the proud Head Teacher of Alva Academy and their achievements. Within the last two academic years they have received The Who Cares Award for Young Carers, The National Autism Inclusion Award, Success Looks Different Award, TES Award for Community Engagement Initiative and the Scottish Education Making the Difference Award.

Peter Bain has been a Headteacher in Argyll and Bute since 2008. He is currently the Executive Headteacher of Oban High School, Tiree High School and Tiree Primary School. He Chairs the Council’s Education Budget Committee and is a member of the Joint Services Committee and LNCT. Peter is also the current President of School Leaders Scotland affording him the opportunity to liaise with national leaders across Scottish Government; Education Scotland, SQA and the HMIe (where he also performs the role of Associate Assessor). Formally Chair of the BOCSH group of national Headteachers; as the School Leaders representative on Professor Hayward’s Independent Review Group of Qualifications and Assessment. He remains a school leader representative on the Scottish Government’s Relationships and Behaviour Taskforce and a member of the SQA Qualifications Committee. More locally he Chairs the Foundation Apprenticeships North Collaborative working closely with Skills Development Scotland.

Lucy Henderson began her teaching career in 2005 as a class teacher in Aberdeen before progressing to the role of Depute Head Teacher in Aberdeenshire in 2012.

Her leadership journey continued in Edinburgh in 2014 as Head Teacher at Hillwood Primary School, followed by Corstorphine Primary School in 2016. She has been the Head Teacher at Kirkliston Primary School since 2018, where she is passionate about creating an inclusive learning environment and removing barriers to attendance.

With a focus on supporting all learners, Lucy works to ensure that every child feels valued, included, and engaged in their education.

Jonathan Graham was raised and educated in Glasgow taking a BSc in Chemistry from Strathclyde University. He began his teaching career in Leeds in 2000, before returning to Scotland in 2004. He has held leadership roles in several schools and local authorities and moved to Glasgow as Faculty Head of Science in 2006. Since 2019 he has been Head Teacher of Eastbank Academy, a school of over 1000 pupils in the east end of Glasgow. Eastbank was inspected in 2023, with the report highlighting “The highly effective leadership of the headteacher” as a strength of the school. Jonathan completed his MEd in Educational Leadership with a Merit award at the University of Glasgow in 2023; his research centred on curriculum architecture and the BGE-SP interface.

I am Lindsey Howland and have been Headteacher at Allan’s Nursery and Primary for 8 years. Allan’s is a 0-12 provision and I feel incredibly privileged to be lead such a unique nursery and school as we are able support families right from the outset. I am passionate about ensuring that our children receive love and feel a sense of belonging when in school and nursery and that our curriculum inspires them to be active change makers! We can only do this if our children and young people want to come to school so let’s break the barriers together!

Gavin Calder, Chief Executive, has been in educational leadership since 1999, having spent the last 16 years as a headteacher. Prior to joining Harmeny In April 2024. Gavin was the headteacher at Edinburgh Academy’s Junior School and has been at the forefront of the independent school sector’s understanding and Integration of ever-developing best practice, including those with additional support needs. He Is also a board member of the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS). While at Lomond School and Loretto School, Gavin has worked closely with local authorities who placed children from looked-after backgrounds in the boarding houses. The boarding facilities in both schools were praised for their high level of care and Individual attention by the Care Commission (now the Care Inspectorate).

Gavin Is passionate about sports, music and Outdoor Education. He Is a trained coach and the Chair of Triathlon Scotland. He also holds the role of Chair of the Board for the Scottish Outdoor Education Centres.