Primary school’s new head ready to get started
PUPILS at a village’s primary school will have a new headteacher after the Easter holidays.
Steven Wood will take on the role at Gullane Primary School later this month, after nearly six years at the helm of Gorebridge Primary School and Early Learning Centre in Midlothian.
Mr Wood, who lives in North Berwick with his wife and two children, was looking forward to getting started, with his official first day on April 19.
Originally from Orkney, he said: “I have got a real affinity with the area, having lived in North Berwick and spent a lot of time in North Berwick and the surrounding area.
“I love the place and the people I have interacted with. To be able to live and work within that community is ideal for me.
“Obviously, I grew up by the sea as well and have a real affinity with the coast.
“I have heard a lot of good things and done my research.
“There are a lot of positive things said about the school from children, staff, parent community and folk that know the school well. It sounded a very positive environment to work.”
The majority of Mr
Wood’s teaching career has been spent in Midlothian, teaching at Mayfield Primary School and Moorfoot Primary School, as well as at Gorebridge.
However, he also spent time at Campie Primary School, in Musselburgh, as a principal teacher.
Mr Wood, 47, described it as “a wrench” to leave Midlothian behind but he was already looking forward to the new role.
He said: “In terms of opportunities, it is a community with a lot on offer.
“It is making the most of those opportunities within the local community.
“It is a great environment, it is a growing community, it is getting bigger
and, obviously, that comes with challenges as well.”
The appointment was rubberstamped by members of East Lothian Council’s education committee last month.
Ronnie Taylor, who became headteacher at Gullane Primary School in 2021, having previously worked in the same position at Innerwick and Stenton Primary Schools, took on the same role at Law Primary School in North Berwick earlier this year.
Depute headteacher Amy Kay has been acting headteacher at Gullane Primary School since Mr Taylor’s departure.
It sounded a very positive environment to work