Our story

We believe in the power of combining technology and learning

In 2019 the Inspire Learning programme launched in the Scottish Borders. A multi-million pound transformation of the way learning and teaching happened with an aim of making the best possible, most complete environment for learning for young people.

At its heart was a requirement for the programme to offer mobile, personal, collaborative technology for every young person, delivering equal access to the best tools for learning and building an excellent context for teaching, learning and assessment.

Meet the team
Catherine Thomson
Programme Manager

Catherine has 29 years of experience in education as a teacher, depute head teacher and now as the Education Technology Lead  for Scottish Borders Council. She is the education lead for the Council’s multi awarding winning education transformation Inspire Learning Programme. As a strategic leader, Catherine has responsibility for the quality assurance and self-evaluation of education improvement planning priorities. In her role with Inspire Learning, Catherine has presented at numerous events across the world including with Apple.

Catherine will bring all her wealth of experience in her role as the Inspire Academy ALC Programme Manager to ensure that the delivery of the Apple Learning Coach Programme by Inspire Academy is a professional, high quality product of which Apple can be proud.

Roddy Graham APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

Roddy has been a primary school teacher for over twelve years and currently teaches at Tweedbank Primary School in Galashiels.

He has been part of the Inspire team for the last two years and is leading digital pedagogy in Early Years and with nursery children in his local schools and settings. In particular, he supports staff with the technologies curriculum in using coding and programming.

Roddy is part of the Inspire team that plans and delivers the professional learning offer for all schools and he has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist in Borders for over a year. He is enthusiastic football supporter and music lover.

Linzi Holliday APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

English and Media teacher at Hawick High School.

She has been part of the Inspire team for three years and is responsible for planning and delivering digital professional learning and supporting schools and teachers in her school group to enhance learning, teaching and assessment. 

Linzi leads the Everyone Can Create professional learning offer for all schools in the Borders and has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist for two years. 

In her spare time, Linzi coaches at her local swimming club.

Nicola Douglas APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

Nicola has been teaching for sixteen years as a Chemistry teacher at Selkirk High School and in 2022 completed MEd in Leadership and Learning.

She has been part of the Inspire team for three years and has been key to the school gaining its Apple Distinguished school status in 2021, working closely with the senior leadership team. 

Nicola is part of the team that plans and delivers the professional learning offer for all schools and she has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist for over two years. 

Nicola is passionate about all things Science and plays Horn with her local brass band.

Suzanne Pritchard APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

Suzanne has been teaching Physics and Science for 18 years at Galashiels Academy and is Principal Teacher for digital learning.

She has been part of the Inspire team for 3 years and is the STEM coordinator for primary and secondary schools in her local area.

Suzanne is part of the team that plans and delivers the professional learning offer for all schools and she has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist for over a year. 

She loves drawing on her iPad.

Helen Orde APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

Helen has a degree in Music Technology, has been a primary school teacher for thirteen years and is currently at Broomlands Primary School and has been key to the school gaining its Apple Distinguished school status in 2021.

She has been part of the Inspire team for three years and has delivered live coding lessons online to Borders students and has a keen interest in the modern languages curriculum.

Helen is part of the team that plans and delivers professional learning offer for all schools and she has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist for over a year. 

She plays Eb Bass in her local brass band.

Catherine Little APLS
Lead Teacher : Digital Learning

Catherine has been a primary school teacher for over twenty years in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and now at Kingsland Primary School in Peebles.

She has been part of the Inspire team for two years and is passionate about creativity, coding and accessibility for students. 

Catherine is part of the team that plans and delivers the professional learning offer for all schools. She has been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist in the Borders for over a year and supports her local schools to improve their digital pedagogy.

In her spare time she is a dance mum or can be found supporting local mountain bike events.

Paul Graham APLS
Inspire Learning Development Officer

Paul is the former Principal Teacher of Maths & Computing Science at Kelso High school and is now Development Officer for Inspire Learning.

Apple accredited trainer for App Development/XCode

Paul likes rock climbing.

In the years since we have deployed the iPad to thousands of young people and staff, delivered core technical support and provided high quality professional development to thousands of teachers and school leaders.

In a world where digital skills and creativity are vital for every young person, both now and in the future it was important for us that these were at the core.

With Inspire Academy we are now working with educators, schools, local authorities and business leaders to help build these fundamental skills and help young people thrive in this emerging digital age.

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