NEXT WEEK, the name of the 2008 Scotswoman of the Year will be revealed. The winner will be announced at a star-studded dinner at Glasgow City Chambers on Wednesday evening, when we'll also find out the names of the Scots Businesswoman of the Year and the Scots Sportswoman of the Year.

NEXT WEEK, the name of the 2008 Scotswoman of the Year will be revealed. The winner will be announced at a star-studded dinner at Glasgow City Chambers on Wednesday evening, when we'll also find out the names of the Scots Businesswoman of the Year and the Scots Sportswoman of the Year.

Susan Nicol, general manager of St Enoch Centre, sponsor of the awards says: "At the St Enoch Centre we pride ourselves on the contribution we make to Glasgow. The nominees in these awards have all made important contributions to our community and deserve a great deal of admiration."

THAT first day, November 6, 2006, the new head at St Ninian's Primary met more of her pupils than she had bargained for.

A long line of them snaked outside her door - but it was not a welcoming committee. They were waiting for her to punish them for their sins.

"It is fair to say there was general unruliness in the classroom and in the playground," says Mary McLachlan.

"That first day was very lonely because the teachers and pupils were desolate and in turmoil."

Little wonder. A report from HM Inspectorate of Education on the Knightswood school had been abysmal.

The city's worst ever.

Standards at the 215-pupil school in the 3Rs were low and plummeting.

There was no respect. Management systems had completely broken down and relationships at the school were at an all-time low.

The pupils were rude and aggressive to the teachers and each other, classroom indiscipline was rife and teachers and parents had lost faith in the school.

Was Mary mad to take this on? It was her first post as a head and failure would not have been a good career move.

But Mary McLachlan is a fighter and told herself the only way was up.

"I remember speaking to the staff that first day and saying, We have an enormous task, but we will do it as a team'," she recalls.

Her reward has come remarkably quickly - the school last week received a gold star from the inspectors, with a glowing report praising behaviour, attendance and educational standards.

Morale is sky high and there is zero tolerance on bullying.

It helps that every day pupils are asked What have you done today to make you feel good?' Inspectors could not contain their joy at the transformation.

Mary says: "It is such a happy place now.

The inspectors could not believe it.

"I was told they were in tears before at the state of the school. It was heartening for them to come back and see how it had changed.

"Some children in this catchment area have a hard life at home and we want the school to be a haven for them. I want them to smile when they come in."

As for the parents ...

"The difference," says one, "is night and day.

I used to think it was school policy to scowl because my children came in every day with their faces tripping them.

"Now they burst in the door with stories and love telling me about their day, especially after Friday assembly!

"I would like to extend my gratitude to the head teacher. Without her, my girls would still be grunting when I ask about their day."

Mary admits this endorsement means a great deal to her, but she has also been touched by the effect of the new regime on teachers' morale.

Many, she says, have re-invented themselves.

"It has given them a new lease of life and the chance to prove they are talented and skilled teachers."

After she casually praised one teacher's work on a Friday afternoon, he came to her on the Monday morning and said, Can I say you don't know what a wonderful weekend I had because that is the first time someone said something positive to me about my job for a long, long time.' Mary says: "That made me quite emotional."

She brought to bear all her considerable powers of organisation and faced her tough task head on.

"I love having a project and seeing it through. That first day I knew I had to start from the beginning with pastoral care. But through it all I just felt I was doing my job."

She set about inspiring the demoralised staff, giving them the confidence to believe they could take on the massive task of turning the school round."

A system is now in place where staff deal immediately with any problems and it is rare a pupil has to be sent to her to be chastised.

"The staff, too, are like different people. They must be applauded for that because they have worked so hard.

"I have to stress you can't do this yourself. You have to have the whole team behind you. They have all been wonderful."

Innovative and fizzing with ideas, she laughs as she describes how the staff pretend to be exasperated when she comes up with another one of her schemes, such as recycling rags for a fashion show.

So who is this paragon?

Mary, 50, could be any business executive in a suit, but is also very feminine in lipstick, sheer tights and high heels. The lipstick is important. It is the one thing she would make sure she took to a desert island.

Brought up in Glasgow's West End, she now lives in Bishopbriggs, where husband Danny is deputy head at Turnbull Secondary. Their daughter, Roxanne, and son, Martin, are in teacher training, while their eldest daughter, Laura, is a journalist.

Mary trained at Notre Dame College and has worked at a number of primaries, including St Charles at Kelvinside, the primary she attended as a youngster.

She was principal teacher at St Joseph's, Woodside, and spent only five months as deputy head at St Mary's in Duntocher, near Clydebank, before she started at St Ninian's.

The awards are starting to come. But she will not be resting on her laurels: "I want to raise attainment to well above the Glasgow average."

BUSINESS: Firm aims to cure cancer ONE day perhaps, Dr Rabinder Buttar's company will help develop a cure for cancer. That is one of the dreams of the founder and president of ClinTech International, based in Finnieston. The award-winning company is a world leader in clinical research and Rabinder, 46, heads a global team of researchers. Last year, ClinTech doubled its revenue with a turnover of £10million, winning major contracts. Rabinder forecasts 150% growth for this coming year and is planning a recruiting drive to add to her existing 25 staff. She has a new venture called Caledonia Pharma, which is developing a drug for colorectal cancer and osteosarcoma. The company is also developing much needed new medicines to tackle common diseases like diabetes, cancer, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Rabinder, who lives in Bishopbriggs with her husband, a dentist, and two sons, was born in the Punjab to Sikh parents, but brought up in Glasgow. She has spent the past 20 years in London and Germany, but was lured back to Glasgow by major government grants. "I thought Glasgow had the potential for recruiting good skills here that could be developed - and I was right."

SPORT: Laura knew the new team could be best in country LAURA MONTGOMERY is the captain of Glasgow City Ladies Football Club and led the team to victory in the S.W.F. Premier League in the 2008 season. That, Laura claims, was her best moment in football and a fitting way to celebrate the team's 10th anniversary. In their tangerine and navy strips, the team play at Glasgow Green, not far from defender Laura's home in Langside. A law graduate, who is national account manager for Rexel, Laura, 33, is positive, determined and competitive. Her form is as good as it has ever been and she is a great role model for women in sport. A successful athlete when younger, she ran for Scotland. Along with Carol Anne Stewart, now Glasgow City's full-time chairwoman, Laura formed the team after three years out of football with a serious injury. She said: "I thought we could create the most successful team in the country." She was right. They've played in four Scottish Cup finals, winning two, and been in three Premier League Cup Finals. They were crowned Premier League Champions in season 2004/05 and season 2007/08 which qualified them to compete in the UEFA Women's, where they became the first Scottish side in the last 16. Laura said: "It opened our eyes. We saw how amateur we were in terms of finances. We had to do without our best player because she couldn't get time off work."