Published on:
23
February 2012
Lornshill Academy has a new headteacher.
Peter Allan comes to Clackmannanshire from Jedburgh Grammar School, where he had been Rector since 2008.
Mr Allan's appointment follows the retiral of the previous headteacher Danny Murphy and a subsequent 18 month period of Acting Headship by Jackie Dunlop.
Mr Allan said that one of his main aims is to ensure that the school retains a sharp focus on raising attainment and he will be working closely with subject departments and support staff in the school in seeking to improve performance.
He added: "At the same time we must rise to the challenge of providing all our young people with planned opportunities to broaden achievement and to succeed in their learning. We must work in partnership with all stakeholders to confront the very concerning statistical evidence from Skills Development Scotland which indicates that around 20% of our school leavers access Jobseekers Allowance as they do not have the "positive destinations" of employment or further study."
You are invited to send a photographer to Lornshill Academy ay 10am on Friday 24th February when Mr Allan will be welcomed to Clackmannanshire by Councillor Mark English, Inclusion Portfolio Holder.
Councillor English said: "I would like to offer my congratulations to Peter on his appointment and look forward to the contribution he will make to the continuing improvement at Lornshill Academy. I would also like to thank Jackie for the valuable contribution she has made over the past 18 months as Acting Headteacher."
Mr Allan believes that in developing young people's life and work skills there is a clear need to go further with vocational skills provision in many Scottish schools. He is enthusiastic about Clackmannanshire's three secondary schools current dialogue with Forth Valley College about the possibilities of aligning timetables across the schools to facilitate pupils choice of introductory and taster vocational skills courses provided in the College and he is keen to explore opportunities to develop partnership working with the business community in the area to enhance this important element of the curriculum.
He added: "A fundamental responsibility for all is providing an educational experience which helps equip all our learners with the flexible skills and positive attitudes to prosper in the future, both in our local area and in the wider national and global context."
Mr Allan was born in Toronto, Canada, and came to Scotland at the age of four when his family settled in Coatbridge. After secondary school he went to Glasgow to complete his degree in English and French before taking a year's placement in Montpellier in France. He returned to Scotland to a teaching position in Grange Academy, Kilmarnock, where he also spent two years outside mainstream provision working in a Support Unit for behaviourally challenging young people before moving to Galashiels Academy in the Scottish Borders as a teacher of English and French then Assistant Principal Teacher of Guidance. Seven years later he moved to Peebles High School as Principal Teacher of Guidance and taught English and Religious and Moral Education.
In 2000 he was promoted to the Senior Management Team where he worked for two years as Assistant then Depute Headteacher, leaving to take up the Rector of Jedburgh Grammar post in 2008.
Teaching runs in the family: Mr Allan's wife is Principal Teacher of Guidance in Galashiels Academy and his daughter is a teacher in the Pupil Support department of Peebles High School. Mr and Mrs Allan's three sons work in banking, retail and the construction industry.
"I am proud and delighted to be appointed Headteacher of Lornshill Academy," he said. "I look forward to getting to know the pupils and staff of the school and to serving the school and its community by working in close partnership with all parents and carers, associated primary school colleagues and all support agency professionals who have a stake in the success of the school."
In his spare time Mr Allan enjoys hillwalking, cycling and is also a water boat enthusiast when the weather allows.