A NEW education chief has been appointed at East Renfrewshire Council.

Mark Ratter, 46, will take over as director of education from Mhairi Shaw, who is set to retire at the end of October.

He makes the step up after serving as head of service (quality improvement and performance) in the council’s education department for the past five years.

Dad-of-five Mr Ratter, who lives locally, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of director of education at East Renfrewshire Council.

“It is a real privilege to be appointed to this prestigious position and I look forward to working closely with schools and senior leaders to continue delivering the very best outcomes and experiences for all our young people.

“We have set ourselves high standards over a number of years and we will leave no stone unturned as we strive to keep raising the bar for all.”

Mr Ratter completed a Maths degree in 1995 at Durham University and went on to attend Glasgow University from 1995 to 1998, where he completed a PhD in Maths.

A year was then spent teaching in Pakistan before he returned to the UK to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education in 2000.

His first teaching role in Scotland was at Williamwood High School, in Clarkston, from 2000 to 2005, before he moved into various quality improvement roles within East Renfrewshire’s education department from 2005 to 2014.

Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “The selection panel was exceptionally impressed with Mark’s vision for the future of education in East Renfrewshire.

“Our schools are some of the top performing in the country and I’m sure that, under Mark’s leadership and with a focused drive for continuous improvement, they will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Councillor Paul O’Kane, East Renfrewshire’s education and equalities convener, added: “Mark has shown himself to be an outstanding leader already and brings a wealth of experience with him to the role.

“He has a deep knowledge of East Renfrewshire and a strong commitment to our community.

“Mark will bring his passion for education and his genuine care for children and young people, their families and our staff, to continue to maintain and drive forward excellence and equity for all.

“I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead and I wish him every success in the role.”