From left: Gillian Thomso,; Catriona Calvert and David Sassarini (picture by Elaine Livingstone)

Independent school Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow has made three senior appointments, Scottish Business News has reported.

Kelvinside teaches more than 600 pupils and comprises a nursery, junior school and senior school, covering 15 years in total.

David Sassarini has been appointed director of educational technology and innovation. He joins from Belmont Academy, a state school in Ayr, where he worked for 18-years and was principal teacher of design and technology.

Sassarini is a member of local and national working groups on curriculum development and will lead on the school’s new curricula creation and qualifications and also lead the development of school policy on the use of digital devices in the classroom.

Sassarini said: “We want to create a generation of doers and problem-solvers, and focusing on innovation and technology will play a huge part in how we achieve it. Employers are crying out for talented young people who will recognise a real-world challenge, are equipped to address it, and most importantly have the appetite to take it on. That’s where our focus will be.

“Innovation is the ability to see what’s gone before and improve it, and the facilities, curricula, and qualifications we will develop at Kelvinside Academy are about empowering our pupils to do that at every stage in their development from primary one right through to senior six.”

Kelvinside Academy has appointed Catriona Calvert as head of junior school. Calvert has more than two decades’ experience in the state school sector, and joins from Glenboig Primary, in North Lanarkshire, where she was head teacher for nine years.

The school has also appointed Dr Gillian Thomson as chief operating officer. Thomson has spent more than 30 years in higher education, including 15 years at the University of the West of Scotland, most recently as director of organisational effectiveness. Thomson has a PhD in business administration in higher education management from the University of Bath.

Kelvinside Academy’s rector Daniel Wyatt, said: “At Kelvinside Academy, we do things differently, and we encourage that same ethos of curiosity, innovation, and experimentation in our pupils that encourages them to plough their own furrow.

“Appointing a director of innovation is a progressive move, and exactly what our parents expect from us. David is the perfect person to drive this next chapter of innovation for Kelvinside. His vision and experience will help our pupils stand out from the crowd as they prepare for higher education and the world of work.

“We are in a privileged position to attract talent of the calibre of Catriona, Gillian, and David, and all three will add fresh ideas, impetus and experience to our senior leadership team as we navigate a new, challenging, but exciting time in the world of education.”