Acting head teacher appointed for Kinlochbervie High Scool
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Highland Council has named John Naples-Campbell as the new acting head teacher of Kinlochbervie High School.
He succeeds Graeme Smart who retires this week after 13 years at the remote, 30-pupil north-west Sutherland secondary.
Mr Naples-Campbell has already visited Kinlochbervie High School as well as its feeder primary schools at Kinlochbervie, Scourie and Durness. Together the schools form a 2-18 campus called the North West Sutherland Schools.
He was accompanied by Mr Smart on a tour of the schools on Tuesday.
Afterwards the outgoing head teacher said: "I was delighted at the warm reception he was given by all he met. I said as he left that what he had seen were happy pupils with happy staff in welcoming schools
"Staff who want to do their jobs to the best of their ability and to give our pupils a fabulous experience.
"They do that and we should be shouting from the rooftops about the quality and breadth of what we have created here even if we are working under severe staffing and financial constraints."
Mr Naples-Campbell (42) brings with him a wealth of experience in education to the post - he is currently a depute head teacher and has been working with the Highland Council’s central team supporting schools.
According to his Linkedin profile, he trained at Queen Margaret University College and the University of Edinburgh.
He has worked in various local authorities teaching drama and performing acts and was also a lecturer in performing arts at Edinburgh College where he secured Academy Award winner Emma Thompson as their patron.
Mr Naples-Campbell helped to develop staff teacher training in inclusive LGBT education.
He was promoted to a depute head teacher with Moray Council in 2020 and transferred to Highland Council in 2021. He has served as a depute head teacher at Glen Urquhart High School.
Through his 19 years in teaching, Mr Naples-Campbell has made it his mission to ensure every classroom is a safe environment for learners no matter their gender or sexuality.
He was the first educator in Scotland to be awarded Professional Recognition in Equality and Diversity (LGBT) Education from the General Teaching Council.
In 2021 he won the Educator of the Year Award category of the National Proud Scotland Awards.
A Highland Council spokesman said: "The head teacher post (at Kinlochbervie) is an acting position at the moment."
