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This summer promises to be particularly busy; the School will be hosting a visit from Scots College in Sydney, providing residential accommodation and facilities for 3 summer schools and accommodating 65 pupils returning early to take port in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Thus the seven week 'break' will offer only 5 working days in which the School is genuinely 'empty'! The modern day pressures to generate marginal income leaves little room for respite, and the support staff do extremely well to sustain the additional workload this imposes. It sometimes seems that because the School never stands still, its support staff can never stand still either.
Challenges successfully met this year have included preparing for Investors in People re- accreditation, completing the initial phase of the Main Building boarding accommodation refurbishment, coping with a notably severe
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winter and handling the complexities of an ever-evolving (and ever more complex) system of financial management within the Ministry of Defence. The Estate Manager and his team have transformed the top floor of the Main Building into accommodation which any school in the country would envy. Indeed by the time the refurbishment programme is complete, there can be little doubt that QVS will have accommodation second to none in Scotland.
Staff changes have been few, but one which certainly warrants mention is the retirement of Mark O'Malley as the School's carpenter. Sadly, Mark had to retire on the grounds of ill health, his arthritis having defeated his determined efforts to continue at work. After 16 years of service, he will be sorely missed and everyone at the School wishes him well in his retirement.
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On a more encouraging note, the School's Closed Circuit Television system has proved a great asset, enhancing our security provision enormously. No system can be absolutely foolproof, but the installation of the cameras
has led to a marked reduction in the level of low grade, nuisance incidents, which have in the past been a source of irritation to staff and pupils alike. The system greatly extends the supervisory reach of our security staff and is a reassurance to pupils and parents that we take security very seriously at the School.
So, another quietly efficient and effective 12 months has been put in by the School's unsung heroes, clerking, storing, repairing, cleaning, cooking, building, healing and guarding - and very much more besides. Doubtless the year to come will be just as hectic.
lan McGregor
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