Governing Body
The Governors of St. Mary's School represent a cross-section of both the local and wider community.
We are fortunate to have board members who are experienced in the areas of education, law, finance and marketing.
Mr G T G Baird:
Chair of Board of Governors
Finance and General Purposes Committee Member
Farmer
Non-Executive Director of several companies and organisations, several of which I have chaired
Governor experience in 3 schools
Experience in working with Government.
Former independent school parent
Flora Maclay:
Chair of Governance and Risk Subcommittee
Education Committee Member
Consultant Counselling Psychologist specialising in working with children and families in independent practice in Edinburgh
Longstanding interest in child and adolescent mental health and the parental and educational systems in which young people develop
Parent of 3 former and 1 current St Mary’s pupils
Gill Adamson:
Chair of Finance and General Purposes Committee
Parent of three boys who were all at St Marys from Kindergarten through to Form 8 (2007 to 2023)
Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser – I am a partner in a local Borders firm where I head up accounts and audit department. Previously worked in a large Edinburgh firm running the corporate tax and VAT department. I work with a lot of local businesses and charities throughout Scotland and North England.
Ross Murphy:
Governance and Risk Subcommittee Member
Oversight of child protection and safeguarding
I am a doctor and work as a Consultant in Edinburgh
I specialise in Acute Medicine and Emergency Medicine
I try to keep fit and will try my hand at most sports.
As a parent of 3 children I am interested in how children can be best supported in their development and progression towards adulthood, amidst all the challenges of modern life.
Geoff Aitkenhead:
Governance and Risk Subcommittee Member
Civil Engineer with experience of leading the delivery of large scale infrastructure programmes in the UK and overseas.
Experience as both an executive and non-exec board member in a variety of companies and charities.
Particular interests include the role of the board in leadership development, risk management and the exercise of good governance.
I live in Darnick with my partner Melissa and have three married daughters and three grand children.
Alastair Armstrong:
Chair, Education Committee
Director of Learning and Teaching and History teacher at Fettes College (2002-present)
Previously taught at Oundle School (1997-2002)
Senior Manager of the SuperTroop Charity which provides residential holidays for young people with physical and learning disabilities.
Bruce Calder Weir:
Board member
University of Aberdeen- Batchelor of Land Economy (1992-95).
Donaldsons Chartered Surveyors (1995-1997) - Qualified and became a Member of the Royal institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Ryden Chartered Surveyors ( 1997-1998) in Development/Agency department.
Macdonald Estates PLC Property Developers and Investors (1999-2000) - University of Reading correspondence course in Property Investment.
Calder Weir Properties and Bruce Weir Farming established in 2000.
Phil MacDonald:
Board member
Managing Partner of Oberlanders, one of Scotland’s leading architectural practices. Partner Lead for projects within the higher and further education, science and research sectors and experience working on a wide range of projects from complex multi-phased refurbishments to large scale strategic masterplans and major new-build developments.
Appointed to the Board of the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) as Director representing Business Affiliate Members in 2022.
Co-opted onto the Board of Management of Borders College in Galashiels, also taking a position on the College’s Audit Committee in 2023.
Committee member of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team and is currently team Secretary, as well as being one of the team’s Casualty Carers. I am also a Scottish Ambulance Service Community First Responder in my local community of Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders where I am currently Chair and Group Coordinator.
Rosie Trotter:
Board member
Parent of 3 current pupils at St Marys, appointed School Governor in January 2024.
I have held various roles throughout my career which have predominantly focused on nutrition and educating children and parents around this topic.
This culminated in running my own teaching and nutrition business whilst I lived in London. This enabled me to gain valuable insights into state and private school operations, and the positive impact food and nutrition can have on children's mental and physical health.