New Head Appointment at Craigclowan

Craigclowan School and Nursery in Perth has announced the appointment of Dougal Lyon as its new Head from April 2025.

Dougal will take over from Liz Henderson, who is set to retire next year, after completing almost 3 decades in different roles at the award-winning school.

Dougal is currently Head of Geography at Haileybury in Hertfordshire, one of the UK’s most prestigious coeducational boarding and day schools, where he has worked since 2018 and also completed six years as a Housemaster. 

Educated at Blundell’s School in Devon, Dougal studied Geography at Southampton University, before completing his PGCE at the University of Oxford. He also holds an MSc in Teaching and Learning from Brasenose College, Oxford. 

Dougal began his career at Christ College Brecon as a Geography Teacher and, after four years, joined Framlingham College in 2013 as Head of Geography. He remained at Framlingham for five years, before joining Haileybury as Housemaster in 2018. At Haileybury, he has served on the Admissions Committee, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the Pastoral Strategy Group.

Dougal is excited at the opportunity to build on the momentum that Craigclowan is experiencing, following the merger with Glenalmond College which was announced in June 2024. 

“I am very much looking forward to joining Craigclowan at this exciting time for the school. Having been able to spend some time in Perth meeting staff and pupils, it is very clear to me that Craigclowan is a brilliant, vibrant, and unique school” said Mr Lyon. 

“The dedication and professionalism of the team of teaching and support staff shines through and it is clear that the school’s values reverberate at every level. It will be a privilege for me to take the school forward and to continue to grow and develop the full potential of the partnership with Glenalmond.”

Bill Farrar, Chair of the Craigclowan Board of Governors, said the selection panel had been particularly impressed by Mr Lyon’s experience to date, as an educator and pastoral practitioner in both prep and secondary settings.

“Dougal’s drive and ambition for Craigclowan are coupled with a keen sense of kindness and humility and we look forward to extending a very warm welcome to him.

“Craigclowan is on a very strong trajectory, with our expanded nursery thriving and an exceptional team of staff and supportive parents. We look forward to Dougal bringing his own energy and enthusiasm when he joins us in April and leading the school into its next exciting chapter.

“Huge thanks go to Liz Henderson for her outstanding contribution to Craigclowan school life for almost three decades and our very best wishes for a long and happy retirement.”

Mark Mortimer, Warden of Glenalmond College said: “I am very much looking forward to working closely with Dougal in the years ahead as the relationship between our two schools goes from strength to strength. The quality of the field of applicants was high, but Dougal was the outstanding candidate and I am confident that he will successfully build on Liz Henderson’s strong legacy and work tirelessly in the interests of the pupils at Craigclowan.”

Dougal will take up his new position at the start of the Summer Term of 2025, where he will be joined by his wife Charlotte and son Humphrey, as they plan to relocate to Perthshire. 

Photograph L-R: Ian Gray (Chair of Glenalmond Governing Council), Mark Mortimer (Warden of Glenalmond College), Dougal Lyon (new Head of Craigclowan from April 2025), Charlotte Lyon (wife of Dougal), Bill Farrar (Chair, Craigclowan Advisory Board)