Working hard to manage the books

What do you do?

The High School of Dundee is an independent school and as rector I suppose I am the manager of a business reporting to a board of directors. The school takes in students from the age of five to 18, and has a great history - William Wallace is a former pupil, and we are in our 761st year this year. My day-to-day job is in the running of the school, managing the finances and planning for the future.

How did you get that job?

I studied English at St Andrews University and then became an English teacher - I've always wanted to teach, but as you move up the ranks the teaching gets less. I'm really not in the classroom at all now, but I make a point of visiting the classes.

What was your first job?

I've always worked in education.

What is your greatest difficulty at work?

The variety of challenges that you face in a day is enormous. There are also incidents like a child getting injured or disciplinary action, but those are very rare. And as the High School is a historic school I feel very much that I'm a steward for the future. I have to ensure that I'm providing a contemporary education for the students but try and do it in the tradition of the past. And, of course, it is an independent school so this is a business I'm running.

What was your biggest working disaster?

I can't think of a true disaster, but I'll admit that on school trips I am obsessive about counting lest we leave someone behind.

How do you stay motivated?

We are about the education of young people, and in a sense you are helping them to their future, their careers, so that's a great motivation. Also, the students only have one chance at their education whereas teachers can modify what they teach.

Are you a workaholic?

I have been accused of that! I'm in the school most days from 8.20am until 6pm or 6.30pm, and then there's occasional meetings with the board of directors in the evenings.

Do you perform well under pressure?

It depends on the kind of pressure. Experience and hindsight are a wonderful thing - I think in a crisis you have to take the problem one step at a time and use logic.

What do you do to relax?

Sometimes it's nice to slouch in front of the TV, but my therapy is in the garden pulling weeds.

Do you use e-mail or surf the internet?

I've been using e-mail for about two years and recently we've had some problems with it and I've realised how much I need it. I've dipped my toe into the waters of the internet but no further. The school is very IT-friendly, though.

What do you look forward to?

I like the variety of my job and occasionally you feel that in some way you are moulding a large number of young people into tomorrow's adults - that's always a great feeling. And there's the holidays, of course!

What's the highlight of your year so far?

On a professional level that is always the Nativity play the Primary Ones, Twos and Threes put on. I also enjoy it when the school comes together to show their talents at, say, our music concert or on the rugby field and in the public forum.

Would you give it all up if you won the National Lottery?

Well, I don't do the lottery - and in fact I've never even won a raffle. I suppose if I won millions then I probably would - a tenner wouldn't really do it.

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