Education Today Education Today Magazine
Kelvinside Academy has appointed the first-ever director of innovation to its Senior Leadership Team amongst a trio of senior appointments as it moves to be the nation’s leading school for developing aspiring entrepreneurs.
The school, based in Glasgow’s west end, is one of the first in the UK to create the role.
David Sassarini, whose full title is Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, joins the Glasgow independent school from Belmont Academy, in Ayr, where during 18-years as Principal Teacher of Design and Technology he led the development of new curricula and learning environments that led to several educational awards.
Sassarini, a member of local and national working groups on curriculum development, will lead on the creation of new curricula and qualifications to prepare pupils for challenges they will face in the world of work and higher education, as well as driving the next chapter for Kelvinside Academy’s £2.5m Innovation School. He will also lead the development of school policy on the use of digital devices in the classroom – considered ‘essential tools’ in the modern educational environment.
Under the new curriculum, pupils will benefit from ‘Daydream Believers’ creative thinking qualifications that will augment SQA exams and act as a ‘point of difference’ for leavers entering higher education or the world of work.
The educational tech expert plans to build on Kelvinside’s already effective partnership with members of industry around Glasgow and Scotland, with particular focus on modern developments in areas including design, space industry, renewable energy, architecture, and construction.
He said: “We want to create a generation of doers and problem solvers, and focusing on innovation and technology will play a huge part in how we achieve it. Employers are crying out for talented young people who will recognise a real-world challenge, are equipped to address it, and most importantly have the appetite to take it on. That’s where our focus will be.
“Innovation is the ability to see what’s gone before and improve it, and the facilities, curricula, and qualifications we will develop at Kelvinside Academy are about empowering our pupils to do that at every stage in their development from primary one right through to senior six.”
Sassarini is one of a trio of senior appointments at Kelvinside Academy for the new school year, that includes new Head of Junior School Catriona Calvert, and Chief Operating Officer Dr Gillian Thomson.
New Head of Junior School Calvert has more than two decades of experience in the state school sector, and joins Kelvinside Academy from Glenboig Primary, in North Lanarkshire, where she has spent nine years as head teacher.
Thomson has spent more than 30 years in higher education, including 15 years at the University of the West of Scotland, most recently as Director of Organisational Effectiveness. Dr Thomson has a PhD in Business Administration in Higher Education Management from the University of Bath.
Daniel Wyatt, Rector at Kelvinside Academy, said: “At Kelvinside Academy, we do things differently, and we encourage that same ethos of curiosity, innovation, and experimentation in our pupils that encourages them to plough their own furrow.
“Appointing a Director of Innovation is a progressive move, and exactly what our parents expect from us. David is the perfect person to drive this next chapter of innovation for Kelvinside. His vision and experience will help our pupils stand out from the crowd as they prepare for higher education and the world of work.”
He added: “We are in a privileged position to attract talent of the calibre of Catriona, Gillian, and David, and all three will add fresh ideas, impetus, and experience to our senior leadership team as we navigate a new, challenging, but exciting time in the world of education.”
