Mr Rodger, aged 46, started his career as a physical education teacher at Knox Academy, Haddington, in 1979. His last school post was as an assistant head in Gracemount High in Edinburgh, after which he was hired as a special adviser to Elizabeth Maginnis, former chair of Lothian’s education committee.

Scotland’s newest director said he saw his move as a “great opportunity”, despite the council’s well-publicised financial problems. “I know from my experience of the Borders that there is a lot of good practice there as well,” he said.

Meanwhile the council announced that it has managed to save almost all the threatened community learning jobs. Nine posts will go but only three will be subject to compulsory redundancies.