A prestigious Moray private school has appointed its first female principal as part of a “progressive” shake-up of its leadership team.
Lisa Kerr will take charge at Gordonstoun, and is the only Moray native – as well as the only woman – to take the position in the 82 years since it was founded.
Ms Kerr, who lives outside Elgin, has been a governor at Gordonstoun for more than 10 years and has a daughter who attends lessons there.
The school was established near Duffus in 1934, and since then its principal’s office has been an entirely male domain.
But Ms Kerr said she was not daunted by her history-making appointment, or the prospect of leading the education of the school’s 600 pupils.
She said: “I have been involved with schools for 15 years, and with Gordonstoun for more than a decade.
“I am tremendously excited by this opportunity to work with an amazingly dedicated staff, at a school which leads the way in character education.
“From my business background, I know that the broad education which Gordonstoun provides has never been more important.”
The Moray mum will assume the role next September, when current principal Simon Reid departs to become headmaster at a boarding school in Sussex.
She will be supported by freshly appointed headmaster, Titus Edge, and mainstay Hugh Brown will retain his post as the school’s finance director.
Gordonstoun will become one of the first independent schools to be led by someone from a business background when Ms Kerr becomes principal.
Chairwoman of the school’s governors, Dr Eve Poole, added: “This new team combines strong educational credentials with a full range of strategic, business and development skills to deliver our vision for Gordonstoun as the world leader in character education.
Ms Kerr spent two decades working in commercial media, and has run a consultancy firm for the past five years.
