Shaping the Future: Strengthening Scotland's education system through empowered schools
Final report of the Independent Professional Advisor on future school reform in Scotland, with a focus on improvement, funding and governance.
2. Acknowledgements
My sincere thanks to the following people without whom this report would not have been possible.
The government secretariat team members for always being on hand to provide practical support, and for their patience when helping to fill the gaps in my skillset.
Graham Thomson for his breadth of system knowledge, unfailing conscientiousness and exemplary professionalism.
Guch Dhillon for his extensive expertise, exceptional diligence and dedication to the rigorous pursuit of high standards for all within the system.
Special thanks to all those who gave up their time to participate in the extensive range of meetings over the past six months and for completing the Call for Views.
The members of my Advisory Group, for their selflessness in devoting much precious time to lend me their ears, their minds, and their wisdom.
Fellow educators, recent and past, for teaching me more than you will ever realise. You make the world a better place.
John D Service and Adrian Martin for their insights on effective financial frameworks; Paul Pringle for shedding bright light on individual and corporate psychology; and Paul Coyne for brilliantly demonstrating to me that even good people rely on systems, and even the best systems rely on good people.
My family and friends who greeted the news of my deployment with a mixture of congratulations and incredulity: thank you for believing that I could actually manage this.