A LONG-SERVING member of staff at Dunoon Grammar School has been appointed acting head teacher following the departure of David Mitchell on secondment to Oban High School.
Helen Campbell, who has worked at Dunoon Grammar for more than 20 years, has taken over the top job and will remain in post for the duration of Mr Mitchell’s secondment.
Mrs Campbell said she was ‘incredibly proud’ to have been given the opportunity to lead a school which has played such a significant part in her own life.
Helen explained: “I know the school, our young people, our families and the wider community extremely well, and I care deeply about what we achieve together. Our vision at DGS is ‘One community, every learner, a future full of possibility’, and that really sums up what I want for the school.
“I want every young person who comes through our doors to feel that they belong here, that they are known and valued, and that we have high ambitions for what they can achieve.”
Mrs Campbell also highlighted the importance of the school’s CLEAR values – Commitment, Love, Equity, Ambition and Respect – which she said should be reflected in everyday life at DGS.
“They aren’t simply words that sit on a wall; I want them to be evident in the way we treat one another, the relationships we build and the decisions we make,” she said.
The new acting head also stressed the importance of Dunoon Grammar’s relationship with the community it serves.
Mrs Campbell said: “For me, leading DGS is also about recognising that the school belongs to its community. We have fantastic young people, committed staff and incredibly supportive families and partners across Cowal.
“I want us to build on those relationships and continue to make DGS a school that our whole community can be proud of. It is a real privilege to lead a school that has been such a significant part of my own life, and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”
Mrs Campbell’s appointment follows Mr Mitchell’s move to Oban High School on secondment, with her acting head teacher role set to continue for the duration of that arrangement.
