East Renfrewshire Council appoints new Director of Education

Mark Ratter will take over from Mhairi Shaw, who is retiring at the end of next month, after being selected as the stand-out candidate during a competitive interview and selection process.

The 46-year-old, who has been Head of Service (Quality Improvement and Performance) within the Council’s Education Department for the past five years, will move into the role when Mrs Shaw steps down on October 30.

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 children and 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.”

Councillor Paul O’Kane, Convener for Education and Equalities, said: “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.”

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.”

Mr Ratter will bring extensive experience to the role. Having completed a Maths degree in 1995 at Durham University, Mark went on to attend Glasgow University from 1995-1998 where he completed a PhD in Maths. A year was then spent teaching Maths in Pakistan before returning to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2000.

His first teaching role was as a Maths teacher at Williamwood High from 2000-2005, before moving into various Quality Improvement roles within East Renfrewshire Council’s Education Department from 2005-2014. A promotion to Education Senior Manager followed, before taking on the role of Head of Service (Quality Improvement and Performance) from 2015.

A handover process is now underway to ensure a smooth transition and continuity when Mrs Shaw retires at the end of October.