Head of World Studies

Mr Neil McFadyean, Houseparent of McNabb House, has recently been appointed to the new post of Head of World Studies. Raising social and political awareness will be central to his task with a particular emphasis in the first instance on China, Russia and Finland. Links are currently being planned with a school in Moscow, whilst in Dollar itself a new Politics Society with regular Thursday lunchtime meetings is proving very popular.

Neil McFadyean who teaches in the History and Modern Studies department is a specialist in 20th century Russian history and was for eight years a member of the Institute of Russian and East European Studies. In the 1990s he visited China four times, on one occasion with his wife Gill. He spent a year in Beijing (1993-94), teaching English in a leading secondary school, a feeder school for China’s two top universities, Beijing and Qinghua. He also taught British culture and history to employees in a chemical factory.

Other members of the History and Modern Studies Department have links with China. Mrs Irene Morrison last summer led a delegation of Scottish Modern Studies teachers on a visit to the country, while newcomer Mr Neil McEwan also has a year’s experience teaching English there.

As a boarding houseparent, Mr McFadyean has of course daily contact with pupils from many parts of the world including Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Nigeria, Hong Kong, the United States, Barbados, Dubai and Bahrain.

The Rector recently announced that 25th April will be dedicated to political and social discussion with a panel of Former Pupils and governors in an “Open to Question” type forum.