A NEW job as headteacher at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School has been a homecoming for Colette Bonnar, who grew up in the Pinkie area.

She started life living in Tranent, where she went to Tranent Primary School, but her family moved to the Honest Toun when she was eight.

After attending Musselburgh Burgh Primary School near where her grandmother lived, she moved on to Musselburgh Grammar School, becoming head girl and enjoying a Saturday job in Woolworths at Musselburgh.

And after years of studying and working her way up the teaching career ladder, she has succeeded Sarah Ogden as headteacher at Pinkie St Peter’s after being its acting headteacher previously.

“From day one I have absolutely loved it at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School,” she said.

“There are so many parents who come through the door that I went to school with, which is great.

“It is important for me to be giving something back to East Lothian. I have had an amazing education here in East Lothian and was given brilliant opportunities that put me on to university.”

Mrs Bonnar added: “When I walk through the school, I am so proud so introduced a new #Proud to be Pinkie.

“It’s about our whole community feeling that when we are walking through our corridors we are Proud to be Pinkie, when we’re wearing those school jumpers outside we’re proud of our young people and children. That’s what I want for Pinkie.”

With more than 400 pupils and a nursery, Pinkie St Peter’s is increasing to 17 classes next session, with more staff.

“Obviously there are all the new builds going on and lots of people moving to East Lothian because it’s a great place to live,” Mrs Bonnar added.

“It is about making sure we are preparing children for a bright future and the 21st century. It is getting our children prepared to be as successful as they possibly can be and be the best that they can be.

“I have a great team and leadership team. We are looking at the vision for Pinkie and the strategic direction of the school, and sharing that with staff, so we have that shared understanding.

“I think that is really important – that we are all coming from the same place and it’s our children that are the heart of everything.

“We have a fantastic parent council in the Pinkie Parents and I am really enjoying attending their meetings.

“We are moving the school improvement plan forward for next session which I inherited from the previous headteacher – not that’s it’s ever that far away from what we want. It’s about our learners and making sure that there is challenge within the school, and there’s exciting, fun learning going on.

“It is an absolute privilege to be headteacher.”

Mrs Bonnar, 41, graduated with a degree in politics and English at the University of Stirling and then attained a postgraduate qualification in primary teaching.

She was a probationer at Tranent Primary School before moving to Castleview Primary School in Edinburgh as a class teacher. She moved up the ranks, becoming behaviour support teacher, principal teacher and depute headteacher.

She served as headteacher at Macmerry Primary School for 18 months before succeeding Sarah Ogden at Pinkie St Peter’s after being acting headteacher beforehand.

A keep fit enthusiast in her spare time, she is preparing to run the last four-and-a-half-mile leg of the Edinburgh Marathon, which finishes at Pinkie next Sunday (May 26), with Bpositive Fitness Solutions from Prestonpans, where she now lives. She will be cheered on by her family, including mum and dad Linda and Brian Davie, who still live at Pinkie. Her brother Jason, a former depute head boy at Musselburgh Grammar School, lives in Kent and is also a depute headteacher.

Fiona Robertson, East Lothian Council’s head of education, said: “Colette Bonnar is an experienced and well-regarded headteacher who has quickly built strong relationships with children, families and staff at Pinkie St Peters.

“We’re pleased to have appointed her to this permanent role following our recruitment campaign.”