Emotional send-off for popular teachers

IT WAS the end of an era at two Fort William schools last week when headteachers Jim Sutherland and Nick Thomson said farewell to Lochaber High School and Lundavra Primary School respectively, writes Mark Entwistle.

If Mr Sutherland, who came to the high school as acting head teacher in April 2006, had hoped he would be allowed to disappear quietly, he was in for a surprise.

After various presentations of retiral gifts from members of staff – including a dinner where he was given an engraved quaich – plus assemblies for each of the year groups, on Friday Mr Sutherland joined the school’s pipe band for what he thought would be photo opportunity.

‘I went outside to have what I thought was my photograph being taken with the pipe band,’ Mr Sutherland told the Lochaber Times this week.

‘Right enough, the pipe band was lined up and it then became clear I was to lead them. I thought it would just be a march round the school, but as we came round the corner you can imagine my surprise when I found the entire school assembled on the all-weather pitch to greet us.

‘I don’t know how they managed to organise something involving the whole school without the knowledge of the head teacher – namely me.’

The entire school then performed a Strip the Willow, with Mr Sutherland saying: ‘It was an unbelievable surprise.’

Prior to his arrival at Lochaber high, Mr Sutherland was head teacher at Kinlochleven high. A Shetlander, Mr Sutherland also taught at schools in Lerwick, Berwick and Thurso.

Asked what he felt was the biggest changes during his time at Lochaber high, Mr Sutherland said he was most pleased with what he called the ‘change of culture’ at the school: ‘My secondment to Lochaber high came after a very challenging inspection report for the school,’ he said. ‘But it was also an exciting time to go there. The improvements to the fabric of the school, costing £31million, made a massive difference, of course.

‘But that is a physical change. I think a more important change has been in the culture of the school – the result of a lot of people working together.

‘Lochaber high is a settled school, providing a safe and happy environment for young people to be educated in and is doing really well.’

Mr Sutherland admitted his final week had been a bit emotional: ‘Yes, it was a wee bit, after more than 10 years. But I have spent quite a bit of time with my replacement, Scott Steele, and I know he will do well.’

Mr Steele comes to Lochaber high from his previous post as a depute head at Berwickshire High School, Duns.

Over at the town’s Lundavra Primary Above: retiring head teacher of Lochaber high Jim Sutherland and, left, Nick Thomson, who is joining the council’s education department as an education quality improvement officer.

School, Mr Thomson also found himself on the receiving end of emotional goodbyes from pupils and staff.

Although leaving after a decade, he is not retiring, but joining Highland Council Education Department in Inverness as an education quality improvement officer.

During his final assembly, a pupil choir performed a specially-composed song about Mr Thomson’s 10 years as head teacher and videos were shown featuring messages, poems, rapping and songs from various pupils.

Current school deputy head Catriona Kelly takes over as acting head teacher until Mr Thomson’s replacement is appointed.

Mr Thomson said: ‘Last week’s assembly was very enjoyable and emotional.’ final a bit