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My friend Margaret Alcorn, who has died aged 78, was a “well-kent” figure in Scottish education. Starting as a teacher, she eventually became the City of Edinburgh council’s quality development manager and then Scotland’s first national continuing professional development co-ordinator.

In that role she created a team and connected with people working on the subject in every local authority. She also led an international programme that resulted in the development of “learning rounds”, based on the medical rounds used by doctors and involving groups of teachers observing classroom practice across the country.

Born in Edinburgh, Margaret was the daughter of Harry Henretty, who worked in paper manufacturing, and Betty (nee Beveridge), a barmaid and waitress. She went to Broughton high school and then the University of Edinburgh (1968-71), where she gained a degree in English literature.

She began her teaching career at her old school, Broughton, before moving on to Forrester high school in the capital and then to Wester Hailes education centre, also in the city.

In 1988 Margaret joined Castlebrae Community high school in Edinburgh, where she became assistant head teacher, before being seconded to City of Edinburgh council, leading the professional development of teachers, a role she took on permanently in 2001 until 2004, when she became national continuing development coordinator at the Scottish Executive, a new post in which she remained until her retirement in 2012.

The two of us met in 1999 as representatives on a working group at the University of Edinburgh, writing one of the national professional standards for teachers. In this role, as in all others, she was always insightful.

Margaret was occasionally invited abroad to share her expertise, and brought inspiring educators to Scotland to talk about what they were doing. She was also convener of the Scottish Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society (2010–19).

In retirement she continued to inspire others, including me. She was a strong, kind, funny and influential woman. Apart from putting the education world to rights, she enjoyed theatre (especially the fringe), cakes, wine and socialising.

Margaret’s husband, Bill Alcorn, whom she married in 1966, died in 2013. She is survived by their daughter, Rhona, and her sister Irene.