Board of Governors

Professor Bart McGettrick is Emeritus Professor of Education and Dean Emeritus, of the Faculty of Education at the University of Glasgow. He is also Emeritus Professor of Christian Education at Liverpool Hope University. He was the first Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Glasgow.  He is Chair of the International Board of Regents of Bethlehem University, Palestine, and works extensively in The Middle East – including chairing the Board of Governors of Tabeetha School in Tel Aviv (The Church of Scotland School.).

He has a background in education and public life that is varied.  He has chaired a range of national committees and a number of Boards of Governors of schools and other organisations. He is a past chairman of SCIS.

He has lectured in every continent except Antarctica! A regular contributor to national and international conferences and conventions across the world.

David is a partner with Turcan Connell.

He practises in fields of civil litigation and employment law. Accredited as a specialist in employment law by the Law Society of Scotland, he has over 25 years’ experience of contentious matters in a wide range of areas.

He previously served a five year term as part-time Chairman with the Employment Tribunal. David is a trustee of Clifton Hall School. He previously sat on the Board of Leuchie and now sits on the Board of Columb 1400. He previously sat for eight years on the board of a college of further education.

Eileen Symington

Born and educated in Ayr.

Graduated with Primary Teaching Diploma in 1976.

Have had a fulfilling and rewarding career as a class teacher, Principal Teacher, Depute Head then Headteacher  for the last 9 years of my career.

 In my promoted positions in several schools, I managed the Additional Support Needs role and pursued  training and qualifications to work with pupils on the Autistic Spectrum.

It is a pleasure to continue my lifelong passion for education and learning as a governor at Clifton Hall. I believe my background training and experience will equip me to support the school willingly and effectively on the board and in the Pastoral Care sub group.

In my retirement I play golf regularly, sing in a local choir and enjoy yoga and aerobics.

Bruce W Wishart joined the Clifton Hall School Board of Governors in 2021, bringing decades of entrepreneurial experience and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. Born in Glasgow and educated in Ayrshire, Bruce has built a distinguished career in business leadership and innovation.

In 1986, Bruce founded his own company, which grew into a major enterprise employing over 330 people across four manufacturing sites in the UK and France. The business also operated sales warehouses in Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain, serving customers throughout Europe. Under Bruce’s leadership, the company became a respected name in its sector before being successfully sold in 2022.

Never one to stand still, Bruce launched Livi Self Storage and Van Hire in 2024, continuing his passion for creating practical solutions for customers and communities. His entrepreneurial journey reflects a strong belief in adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement—values he brings to his role as a governor.

Bruce is committed to supporting Clifton Hall’s vision of excellence in education and personal development. He believes in fostering an environment where pupils are encouraged to think creatively, embrace challenges, and develop the skills needed for a rapidly changing world. As Bruce often says, “I continue to learn every day,” a philosophy that underpins his approach to governance and life.

David was born in Aberdeenshire and was educated at Merchiston Castle School. He subsequently attended Heriot-Watt University, graduating in 1984 with a BSc (Hons) in Building. He worked in the industry for 10 years before establishing Westmill Construction in 1994. He has developed this business for over 20 years and has experience in renovation works to Commercial, Industrial and Listed Buildings.

David was elected President of Scottish Building Federation, Edinburgh Association in 2008-2009 and has served as a Trustee of SBF Charitable Trust since 2008.

David’s interests include playing drums in a rock and blues band, motorcycling and cycling. He is married to Kerry and his son is a former pupil at Clifton Hall School.

Rod Grant was born in Scotland to an English mother and Scottish father who met and married during World War 2. In his early career, he established an award-winning restaurant before turning to the world of education. He has now worked in schools for over 35 years, both in the independent and state-maintained sector. Rod has recently retired as headmaster of Clifton Hall School in Edinburgh, where he had led the school 20 years. He writes articles for the national press as well as being a regular contributor to BBC Radio Scotland programmes and mainstream media podcasts for Sky News and The Daily Telegraph. His first book, ‘Success Decoded’ is a self-help guide aimed at teenagers. Since joining Anthony Millard Consulting 5 years ago, he is now its Managing Director. Rod has led a number of leadership search assignments as well as providing tailored consultancy to schools and individuals in the UK and internationally.