Three Scottish headteachers and a faculty head are on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

They are:

• John Docherty, of St Ninian’s High School, in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire.
• Allison Kennedy, of Knightsridge Primary School, in Livingston, West Lothian.
• Fiona McAvoy, of Newton Primary School, in Ayr, South Ayrshire
• Ruth Stevenson, faculty head of performing arts at Castlemilk High School, in Glasgow.

Mr Docherty (pictured below), who has been at St Ninian’s High since 2005, is made an OBE for his services to education over a 41-year career.

He said: “I am absolutely humbled to be awarded with this amazing honour and it is a sense of great pride for me and my family. When I started out as a geography teacher all those years ago, I could never have imagined gaining an OBE for my work.”

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Mr Docherty added: “I love teaching and get great satisfaction from seeing pupils develop and become confident individuals who are ready for the next stage in their lives. Throughout my whole career, I have been fortunate to work with so many great colleagues, with many guiding me so wisely in the early part of my career.

“It is such a privilege to be the headteacher at St Ninian’s and I am thrilled to have been recognised in this way for doing a job which I absolutely love.”

East Renfrewshire Council said that in June 2019 St Ninian’s High received the best-ever secondary inspection report from Education Scotland.

Mr Docherty, whose teaching career started after he graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1978, will celebrate his honour with wife Helena, a teacher of French and Spanish, and daughter Marie-Helena, a doctor and former St Ninian’s High student.

Colleagues say she has had a huge impact on the Livingston primary school and early years centre since arriving in 2013, reducing antisocial behaviour and increasing attendance and attainment by pupils, with a focus on kindness, perseverance and success.

She regularly returns to Sri Lanka, where she grew up, to carry out voluntary work in schools and community projects.

Ms Kennedy lives in West Lothian with her husband, Graham, who is studying to become a maths teacher after a long career in business, and has two adult children, Scott and Rachel.

Ms Kennedy said: “While this is an unexpected and wonderful honour to have been recognised in this way, the credit belongs firmly with all of the staff, parents and community supporters who work so hard every day to improve the lives of children and their families in Knightsridge.  

“Their continuous efforts make positive differences every day and it has been a privilege to work in such a supportive environment.”

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my family, who continue to be so supportive, and to all the amazing people who have motivated and inspired me throughout my career. I would like to dedicate this award to them, too.”

Fiona McAvoy, headteacher at Newton Primary School in Ayr, is made an MBE, which colleagues say reflects her tireless work to tackle poverty and disadvantage.

One of her key strengths, recognised by Education Scotland, is her work with parents and the wider community. She has helped families with universal credit applications, housing, and environmental health issues. Throughout the coronavirus lockdown, she ensured that staff kept daily contact with families, ensuring they had food, clothing, bedding and essential household items.

Parents appreciate the wide range of opportunities Ms McAvoy (pictured below) provides. She has taken children and their families to football matches and cultural experiences, including classical concerts. When a young child from Afghanistan expressed an interest in climbing Goatfell on Arran, she made that happen.

Ms McAvoy said: “I am deeply honoured, but I still can’t quite believe it. There are so many people doing all they can to help children and families day in, day out, I feel really lucky to have been recognised in this way.

“The children will be thrilled, and I would like to thank all the parents, carers and communities I have worked with over the years for their support.”

Ruth Stevenson, faculty head of performing arts  at Castlemilk High School, in Glasgow, was made an OBE. Among those to congratulate her was education secretary John Swinney.

Fabulous news! We are all absolutely delighted for Ruth ??? https://t.co/jUvbHEl04l

- castlemilk_high (@castlemilk_high) October 10, 2020