QVS - Key Persons
Donald Shaw came to QVS in 2006 as Head of Maths. After a spell as Deputy Head, he was honoured to become Head in 2016. Donald recently completed a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and is currently studying for a Doctorate of Education at the University of Stirling. He loves working at QVS and is proud of the support the school provides to the MOD.
Janette Scott Laing studied in Edinburgh from 1991-1995 gaining a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education from Heriot Watt University (Moray House College of Physical Education). After spending time coaching football in Pennsylvania after graduating, she returned to Scotland and took up a P.E. Teaching post at Queen Victoria School, in January 1996. Within a few months, she was appointed as Deputy Housemistress of Wavell House and joined the CCF as a 2LT.
Janette joined QVS when it was solely a school for boys, seeing the introduction of the first 41 girls in August of 1996. Soon after, she introduced hockey as the main competitive sport for the girls and enjoyed many a Saturday travelling to far-flung areas of Scotland for fixtures, forging links with other schools. During her time teaching P.E at QVS, Janette also kept up her own sporting interests, playing hockey for Stirling Wanderers and football for both Dundee F.C and Stirling Albion F.C until a ruptured ACL halted her participation in team games.
She has had a variety of leadership roles throughout her career at QVS and was appointed as Depute Headteacher (Academic) in March 2017. She is enjoying the challenges that the role affords, working closely with the Principal Teachers and Teaching Staff; with the aim of providing the best possible educational experience for the students of Queen Victoria School.
Janette, her 2 children and husband Steve (who taught at QVS until his retirement in 2019) love living at QVS and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head ( Pupil Support )
Jill Adams attended the University of St Andrews from 1989-1993 graduating with an MA in English Literature. She completed her PGCE at Jordanhill College in Glasgow and spent the first four years of her career teaching at Archbishop Blanch School in Liverpool. She joined Queen Victoria School as a Teacher of English and Assistant Housemistress of Wavell in August 1998. Jill was part of the Promoted Boarding Staff in Wavell for 16 years, living in the Boarding House and marrying her husband in the school chapel in 2002.
Across her career at QVS, Jill has held a number of diverse positions, from Director of Careers to Head of S6. She has travelled on Tour with the QVS Pipe Band at home and abroad and completed an expedition to China & Mongolia in 2019. Her passion is for Volunteering and she founded the school's Make A Difference Club in 2013 where she encourages all QVS students to give something back within our school as well as developing our links with Dunblane and the wider community. She was appointed Deputy Headteacher (Pupil Support) in December 2019 and loves having the opportunity to promote Wellbeing and Mental Health through her post. Her SLT role involves leading the Pupil Support Team, Health and Wellbeing Centre staff and Developing the Young Workforce department, supporting QVS pupils as they move towards positive destinations.
She is extremely proud to be an honorary Victorian and hopes to have the privilege of supporting military families through her role at QVS for many years to come.
Nigel Cunningham joined the Civil Service in June 1980, serving with various MOD HQ branches in London.
In 1991, he took up the post of Civil Admin Officer at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC), in Kyle of Lochalsh.