From the Chalkface

Published on Tuesday 26 August 2008 19:42

PEOPLE ST GEORGE'S School for Girls in Edinburgh has announced the appointment of Mrs Susan Gunn-Johnson as its new headteacher. She took up her position this week following the retiral of Dr Judith McClure after 15 years of service. Mrs Gunn-Johnson was formerly the deputy headteacher of Churston Ferrers Grammar School in Devon.

&#149 THE author of two musicals, and a regular broadcaster on Radio 4, is to be the new head of Musselburgh school Loretto, it was announced this week. Peter Hogan was previously the head of Llandovery College in Wales, where he also served as its head of economics. He is the author of several business texts as well as a playwright and contributor to the BBC's Money Box and In Business radio shows.

NEWS

&#149 EDINBURGH Academy will become a fully co-educational school for the first time in its 184-year history today, when it welcomes girls into all year groups in its senior school.

It will mark the culmination of a shift in policy that was announced by the school in 2006 and partly enacted last summer with the introduction of girls throughout the junior age groups. They joined girls in the nursery school and S5 and S6 female pupils educated at the Academy over the past 31 years.

Speaking to The Scotsman last month, retiring rector John Light explained the reasons behind the school's decision. "We had to start thinking about where the market would be in 20-25 years' time and we simply couldn't see the justification for a single-sex school in the longer term."

He explained that the school was appealing to too few Edinburgh families. "If you had girls only you couldn't come to the Academy, if you had boys and girls you probably wouldn't come to the Academy because you wanted a one-stop shop. And in some cases if you had boys only, you didn't want a boys-only school because it was also a very male environment in the home."

He also acknowledged that changes in modern society had played their part. "The workplace is so integrated now, why should we have a model that is not a reflection of how the average office or hospital works?"

Light will be succeeded in his post this session by Marco Longmore, a former head of history at George Watson's College.

SCOTLAND'S first full-time conservatoire-level jazz music course will be on offer at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama next year, it was announced this week. Led by jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith, the course will see students tutored by Scotland's leading jazz musicians including trumpeter Ryan Quigley, trombonist Chris Greive, and guitarist Kevin Mackenzie. The course is aimed at students at undergraduate and postgraduate diploma level.

EVENTS

THE Open University in Scotland's Edinburgh office will be open to the public this Saturday as part of a drive to provide more information about what it has to offer. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about OU courses and the funding available to students. For more information visit www.open.ac.uk/events

&#149 THE National Youth Choir of Scotland is running a musicianship training weekend at Stirling University on 6 and 7 September. The event will be based on the teaching principles of the Hungarian musician, Zoltn Kodly, which help children of all ages develop musical skills. It will see teachers, choir leaders and nursery staff take workshops on topics including Kodly and the Curriculum for Excellence. For more information and to book visit www.nycos.co.uk

&#149 AN EXHIBITION of original illustrations by the artist, Quentin Blake, will go on display at the Alliance Franaise de Glasgow from 8 September. Blake – best known for his work illustrating the Roald Dahl books – will exhibit artwork drawn for his latest book, You're Only Young Twice, at the event, which will run until 11 October.