Renfrewshire Council

Gerard has now been in post for the past few weeks and has been out and about visiting many of the schools which he now oversees. 

He will work alongside Director of Children's Services Janie O'Neill, our other Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) Emma Henry, and our Chief Social Work Officer John Trainer as part of the senior leadership team for the department. 

Gerard will be taking on a very busy remit which includes early years, oversight of the learning estate strategy, education staffing, financial sustainability, and the music service. We caught up with Gerard to get his first impressions of life in Renfrewshire and how he's been enjoying the job so far. 

He said: "So far, everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and I've been impressed by the shared sense of purpose within the organisation. There's a clear commitment to improving the lives of children and families, and it's exciting to see the focus on continuous improvement. 

"I'm looking forward to getting to know more about the area and working alongside the team to build on the great work already happening here." 

Gerard arrives with years of experience both in schools and within central education management teams. We asked him to tell us a bit more about his background to date, and how that experience helped shape him. 

He told us: "I started my career in education with Glasgow City Council, as a class teacher. Then I moved to South Lanarkshire Council as a Principal Teacher, before becoming a Depute Head Teacher back in Glasgow. 

"My first Head Teacher post was at St Clare's Primary in Drumchapel, and I then moved to St Mark's Primary in East Renfrewshire for my second headship. For the last eight years, I served as Chief Officer for Education and Families at North Lanarkshire Council. 

"This gave me a broad range of experiences in leadership, helping me develop a deep understanding of the importance of collaboration and community to drive positive change. Each role has shaped my approach, always prioritising the needs of students and families, with a focus on inclusion, support, and educational improvement." 

This year we published our ambitious Learning Estate Strategy, which sets out how we plan to transform Renfrewshire's schools over the years ahead. Gerard will have a key role in leading that work and admits this is one of the parts of the job he is most looking forward to working on. 

And looking further to the future, Gerard sees partnership working between all our teams as critical to how we deliver for the children and young people who need our support most. 

He said: "One of the key areas I'm excited to focus on is the learning estate strategy. I'm eager to contribute to the development and improvement of our educational facilities and ensure they meet the needs of future generations. 

"I'm also looking forward to continuing the important work already being done here to support inclusion, promote mental health and wellbeing, and further strengthen partnerships across services to ensure the best outcomes for all our children and young people. 

"To meet the challenges facing the education sector in the years ahead, we need to ensure our schools and services are equipped with the support they need to continue offering quality education. 

"Focusing on early intervention, providing mental health services, and adapting to new ways of teaching and learning will be essential. Working together, across departments and with our communities, will be crucial in overcoming these challenges and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed." 

Published on Wednesday 11 December 2024