University Vice-Principal Education Clare Peddie to Step Down

Professor Claire Peddie, current Proctor and Vice-Principal Education at the University of St Andrews, is to retire from her Principal Office’s role in December 2026.

On Monday 13 April, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University Dame Sally Mapstone announced the Proctor’s retirement in a university-wide email. 

Professor Peddie is a St Andrews alumna with both an undergraduate degree and a PhD in marine biology. Her career has been focused on education in biology, and she was the first professor appointed under new promotions procedures that recognise contributions to teaching and service at St Andrews. 

She has acted as Director of Teaching, responsible for academic standards, curriculum development, and the successful delivery of a range of Biology degrees, as well as Head of School of Biology. 

Peddie acted as Head of the School of Biology when a fire broke out in the Biomedical Sciences Building in 2019, which devastated “not just the building but the work, and mental health, of many colleagues,” Mapstone wrote. 

She also wrote that Professor Peddie’s “tireless and empathetic leadership” was a crucial factor in the University’s ability to bounce back from the fire. 

Professor Peddie served as the Pro Dean for undergraduates in the Faculty of Science, and as the Pro Dean for taught postgraduates. 

In the latter role, she developed new and revised university policies to enhance student experience, and led an internal review of taught postgraduate provision, followed by a review of postgraduate regulations and associated policies. 

In 2019, she was promoted to Professor before assuming the role of Vice-Principal Education (Proctor). 

Professor Peddie is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy with Advance HE and has experience as a senior academic reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency. She is Deputy Chair of the UK Quality Council, and contributes to national and international policy in educational quality. She continues to teach marine biology in the field at the undergraduate and Masters level.

Following her retirement from her Principal’s Office role, the email stated that she plans to devote more time at the national and international levels to projects on quality in higher education, and to be available to support existing research projects and curriculum development in the University’s School of Biology. 

Dame Mapstone added that she is “an outstanding member of our senior leadership team, and has done more than anyone else in recent years to protect and ensure the quality of teaching and student experience which sets St Andrews apart.”

The University states that they plan to shortly begin advertising for the role of Vice Principal-Education in order to allow the new post holder to work alongside Professor Peddie before she leaves office at the end of the year.

Photo Courtesy of the University of St Andrews