Gillian Campbell-Thow took over as secondary headteacher at Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic School) earlier this year.
A languages teacher by background, she tells us about broadening approaches to Gaelic-medium education (GME), the need to stay calm during pupils’ crises and how the culture around teaching has changed during her time in the profession.
1. What I wish I had known when I started teaching...
That I didn’t need to be brave all the time - that it’s OK to ask for help. When I qualified in 2000, it wasn’t the culture to ask for help or to admit that you were struggling, and there wasn’t mentoring available. The probationer scheme in Scotland has played a big part in transforming that.
2. The most important qualities in a school leader are...
Credibility, curiosity, care, self-awareness and the ability to set the example that you can be a leader - but also have boundaries. For me, I can be a school leader and a mum, too.
3. The most important lessons I’ve learned from doing this job are...
First, you need to look after yourself personally (boundaries, time management, sleep and elusive visits to the taigh beag). Professionally, you need to read, discuss, learn and think outside the box.
Second, every day is a new day, with staff and young people. They need that fresh start, as do you.
Third, pick the battles.
Fourth, always make time to get into classes and see the young people and staff in their element.
4. The best change I ever made to my school was...
That’s a tough one. I’m in the rare and privileged position of leading a GME school in Scotland, and it’s a growing school.
We’ve made changes to meet the needs of the wee people and staff and put Gàidhlig language right at the heart of that.
For example, wider achievement through the medium of Gàidhlig to get them all using Gàidhlig in a more social way, increased curriculum options, alternative learning spaces (a bit like golden time in primary schools, with everything from crochet to taekwondo) and a working-time agreement that puts teachers first.
5. If I could change something about Scottish education, it would be...
Normalising GME. Getting equity and recognition and a seat at the table. For people to realise that it is a “real” school and equally as valid as an English-medium education school. Of course, more teacher voice at the decision-making tables nationally, for GME but also more widely - and not in a tokenistic way.
6. My most memorable moment as a leader was...
Taking my daughter to my headship graduation and seeing how proud she was of me. In school? Too many to mention but having nearly 500 pupils recently support me in raising £6,000 for cancer research, all dressed in pink, brought me to tears.
7. The worst mistake I ever made...
Best not to put that one in print!
8. My top tip for an aspiring school leader is...
Always be true to your values, but don’t be too quick to put yourself into a particular leadership style box. Listen - even when it’s hard to - and get an experienced mentor that you identify with and can talk to.
9. When dealing with challenging pupils, my go-to strategy is...
To be calm and always remember that they are just a wee person. Our teenagers come to us with so much going on that it’s important to be consistent in my own responses.
It’s more a Maslow response [Abraham Maslow is best known in education for his hierarchy of needs theory of human motivation]. Is it hunger, tiredness, health or safety (emotional, mental and physical)?
10. The best CPD I ever did was...
Two sessions with motivational speaker David Wells. The first one really stood out for me, and I kept the page from my notebook with everything I wrote down.
He talked about how, when you get scunnered where you are, you need to go back to your “why”. I drew a wee love heart and had the word “weans” written in it. Simple as that - it absolutely grounded me.
There was also a session on Gaelic place names with Paul Kavanagh (also known as “Wee Ginger Dug”), which was linguistically brilliant.
Gillian Campbell-Thow spoke to Tes’ Scotland editor, Henry Hepburn
