The education director whose authority has been rated by HMI as the top performer to date is to bow out on a high and retire next March.
Maggi Allan of South Lanarkshire will leave her post at the age of 55 as one of Scotland’s longest-serving directors, having been appointed in July 1995 and worked in the directorates in the former Strathclyde and Central regions for 20 years. Mrs Allan is coming to the end of her second five-year contract.
Her successor will work alongside her in the post, which carries a salary of pound;90,000-pound;103,000, for three months until December and will take over at the start of next year, with Mrs Allan acting as adviser.
HMI’s report on South Lanarkshire in February praised Mrs Allan’s “inspirational leadership” which was “in many respects outstanding”.