Subject: City appoints Director for Education, Culture and Sport
Information forwarded from Rhona Jarvis
City appoints Director for Education, Culture and Sport
Aberdeen City Council has appointed Annette Bruton – a Chief Inspector
with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education – as Corporate Director
for Education, Culture and Sport.
Mrs Bruton, who has a distinguished career in the field of education,
will take up her post in a few weeks’ time.
City Council Chief Executive Sue Bruce said: “I am delighted that we
have appointed someone of Annette’s calibre from what was an extremely
impressive set of candidates. She came through our very robust
assessment centre with flying colours and will bring a wealth of
invaluable experience to the post.”
City Council Leader Councillor Kate Dean said: “Providing excellent
education and delivering top-class sports and culture for our citizens
are among this administration’s highest priorities. Annette has all
the qualities we were looking for in the person who will lead these key
services.”
Deputy Leader Councillor Kevin Stewart added: “I could not be happier
with this appointment. Annette has the gravitas that comes from being a
Chief Inspector with HMIE and the extensive hands-on knowledge of
education that we need in order to make Aberdeen a beacon of
excellence.”
Mrs Bruton commented: “I am thrilled to have been offered the job. It
is an exciting challenge to run such important services in a major city
like Aberdeen. I will be working for a city council that is dedicated to
providing its citizens with the very best in learning, culture and sport
and I cannot wait to be part of that.”
The 54-year old joined HMIE as an Inspector in January 2001 and became
a Chief Inspector in 2005, with responsibility for the inspection of
education, community learning and development, and psychological
services across Scotland. Her directorate is also responsible for
following through on school inspection and school improvement.
Before joining HMIE, she was a service manager for quality assurance in
Stirling Council’s children’s services. She has also worked as a
senior manager in the Higher Still national development programme and
was involved in the National Curriculum assessment programme from
1996-99.
Prior to that Mrs Bruton worked in the field of learning support and
special needs in the former Lothian Regional Council, dealing with
vulnerable children and their families.
She began her career as a geography and economics teacher in Dundee.
Mrs Bruton is married to Douglas, a principal teacher of guidance in
Dalkeith, and has three sons aged 16, 19 and 21, the eldest of whom has
been studying at the University of Aberdeen.
The current Corporate Director for Culture and Learning, John
Tomlinson, opted not to put himself forward for the post and will retire
from the service.
Mr Tomlinson said: ”I warmly welcome Mrs Bruton’s appointment. She
will be a first-class director and will be working for a city council
that is firmly on its way to realising its potential.
“For my own part, after a great deal of thought I decided not to put
myself forward for interview for the post for which I have had
responsibility over the past nine months. I have thoroughly enjoyed my
13 years with Aberdeen City Council but I decided that now, at this time
of change for the local authority, was the time to explore new
challenges.
“I will greatly miss all the many excellent people with whom I have
worked over the years at the city council. I wish them all the best for
what will undoubtedly be an exciting future under the new management
structure.”
Mrs Bruce paid tribute to Mr Tomlinson’s long service in local
government, commenting: “John has been an exemplary officer and a
valued colleague and I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do
next.”
Councillor Dean added: “I have known and worked with John for very
many years and know well what a talented director he is. He has given
first-rate service to the people of Aberdeen and I am sure he will go on
to make his mark elsewhere.”
Councillor Stewart commented: “I respect John’s decision to move on
to pastures new. He is an extremely able senior officer with a vast
knowledge of a whole range of services. He will be a credit to any
organisation he moves on to join.”
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