Achieving Together

Dear parents/carers –  

It gives me great pleasure to introduce myself as the new acting headteacher of Portobello High School. I feel very privileged to be assuming leadership from Ruth MacKay, and to support this wonderful school to continue to go from strength to strength. Everyone has made me feel so very welcome, and I am already enjoying the wonderful community of Portobello that everyone speaks about so highly.

I have been teaching for over 23 years, as a classroom teacher, principal teacher, curriculum leader and then depute. I am so looking forward to working with the whole school community. There is already such a committed group of staff at the school, and wonderful young people. I will be listening to the views of staff, pupils and parents/carers as we move forward. Portobello has so many great strengths, and the relationship between parents, staff and pupils is crucial to the school’s continuing success.

I firmly believe in the transformational power of education for all young people, and the paramount importance of supporting all our staff to be the very best practitioners they can be.  I have high expectations of all young people and all they can achieve. I am committed to the vision that school can play an instrumental role in supporting all within the Portobello High School community to become the very best version of themselves, achieving success and excellence at all levels, whilst also developing confidence through learning and other opportunities.

Thank you for all the work you have already done to support your child at Portobello. Thank you for supporting the expectations already in place, to maximise learning across the school. Thank you for supporting community identity with the school, through the dress code policy. I really look forward to meeting you across the many parental engagement sessions this session and working with you.