Glasgow Academy announces new Head of Senior School.

The Glasgow Academy is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Head of Senior School.

Alison Sefton will join The Academy in August 2025 following Dr Matt Gibson’s appointment as Rector.

Born and educated in Scotland, this move to The Academy marks a return home for Alison after some years away. She is a talented and passionate educationalist, having most recently served as Head at Norwich High School for Girls since 2020, a 3-18 independent day school of around 600 pupils. She holds a BSc in Chemistry from Durham University and a PGCE from the University of Chester in Secondary Education with Science. 

Alison has extensive teaching and leadership experience from several schools including Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College and Felsted School in Essex, where she now serves as a Governor. Prior to taking up headship at Norwich High, Alison was Deputy Head Academic at Oswestry School in Shropshire and was also a Governor of a local primary school.

Earlier in her career, Alison qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and worked at investment banks in London combining this with serving in the Territorial Army. Her service included a deployment, as a signals specialist, to Iraq. Alison is also proud to have been the first woman in The Honourable Artillery Company to commission at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Rector Dr Matt Gibson, said: “Alison impressed us with her warmth and integrity. She shares our passion for challenging, nurturing and inspiring young people to succeed in a rapidly changing modern world.”

Commenting on her appointment, Alison said: “I am thrilled to be joining The Glasgow Academy as the new Head of Senior School, a school I have long admired. The opportunity to help lead such a wonderful community in the next stage of its journey and build on the many successes and achievements in recent years is an exciting one.  I am particularly looking forward to getting to know pupils, staff, parents and alumni over the months ahead and collaborate to further inspire the sector-leading education The Academy offers its young people.”