Airdrie Academy
Encyclopedia
Admissions
It has a current roll of approximately 1,100 pupils. As part of Education 2010, a new building was opened in October 2006 to replace the previous one, which had been in use for almost 70 years.The current head teacher is Mr. Ian Fannon. He is supported by a Senior Management Team comprising: Mr. John Johnston, Senior Depute, Mrs. Ruth Ross, Depute, Mrs. Alice Brown, Depute, Mr. John Kerr, Depute and Mr. Robert Hester, Acting Depute.
History
Founded in 1849, Airdrie Academy exists today in its third incarnation. First located on Cairnhill Road in a building that now houses Alexandra Primary School, the Academy moved to its current site on South Commonhead Avenue in 1941. When it was built in the midst of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the new building cost a little over £100,000 at the time.
Grammar school
From its inception, Airdrie Academy was the senior secondary school in Airdrie: pupils who didn't pass an exam on leaving primary school would go to the now defunct Airdrie High.Comprehensive
This system changed in the late 1960s when it became a full six-year comprehensive, nearly tripling the school role to 1800. To cope with the increase the South Commonhead Avenue site's existing 'A-Block' was expanded into a larger campus with specific buildings for Science and Technology and a fourth 'House Block' with six dining halls and three floors of modern classrooms.Though enhanced and expanded over the years, the building fell into disrepair with students having to be taught in portable buildings during the early 2000s whilst asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
was removed from the Science Block. After 60-years of service, the building was reaching the end of its serviceable life and North Lanarkshire Council began exploring alternatives.
In December 1988 there was a meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
outbreak, resulting in the death of a 40 year old teacher.
New building
Vigorous lobbying from the school's pupils, teaching staff and the local MSP stopped the school from merging with Caldervale High in a proposed super-campus with over 2000 pupils. Instead, parents and pupils were invited to select a design for a new Airdrie Academy to be built on the playing fields of its current site. The selected design - similar to most other new schools in the county - was completed in October 2006 and is considerably smaller. The new building cost £26 million.Over the remaining academic year, the old buildings were demolished and the land prepared for new sports fields. During this time one wing of the old A-Block was set on fire by vandals. Demolition moved on and in January, 2007 the iconic 'Dome' part of the old building was pulled down.
Staff
In June 2006 Mr. Allan Dougan, Teacher of Mathematics, was awarded Scottish Teacher of the Year runner-up at the Scottish Education Awards.Notable former pupils
- Charles Hammond, Chief Executive since 2000 of Forth PortsForth PortsForth Ports Limited is one of the largest port operators in the United Kingdom. It is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, which is situated on the Firth of Forth...
- Alan MortonAlan MortonAlan Lauder Morton was a Scottish international footballer and 'Wembley Wizard'. He was known for his stirring wing play as an outside-left and commitment to Rangers. He retired from active play in 1933.-Early life:...
, footballer - Paul TowndrowPaul TowndrowPaul Towndrow is a Scottish saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator.Paul won the Audience Prize at The 2003 His most recent album, 'Newology' attracted a 4 star review in -Solo:* Paul Towndrow 'Colours' - 2003 FMR Records...
, saxophonist - Sean KennedySean KennedySean Kennedy may refer to:* Sean N. Kennedy , basketball player* Sean W. Kennedy , victim of anti-gay bias crime* Sean Kennedy , horror author and internet radio personality...
, Local Legend
Grammar school
- Rev Andrew Baird, Regius Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism from 1919-39 at King's College, AberdeenKing's College, AberdeenKing's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
, University of AberdeenUniversity of AberdeenThe University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world... - William Baird, Registrar General for ScotlandGeneral Register Office for ScotlandThe General Register Office for Scotland was a non-ministerial directorate of the Scottish Government that administered the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions in Scotland. It was also responsible for the statutes relating to the formalities of marriage and conduct...
from 1973-8 - Very Rev Peter Brodie, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandThe Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
from 1978-9 - Gilbert Kirkwood Cox CVO MBE, Lord Lieutenant of LanarkshireLord Lieutenant of LanarkshireThis is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire.*George Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney 1714 - 29th January 1737*Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton 17 March 1794 – 2 August 1799...
from 2001-10 - David Lees CBE, Rector from 1950-76 of The High School of GlasgowHigh School of GlasgowThe High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
- Sir George G. MacfarlaneGeorge G. MacfarlaneGeorge G. Macfarlane was an engineer, scientific administrator and public servant. He made major contributions to research on radar during World War II and received a special appointment as Superintendent, for theoretical work, within the Physics Division of the Telecommunications Research...
CB, engineer, scientific administrator, public servant, Director from 1962-7 of the Royal Radar EstablishmentRoyal Radar EstablishmentThe name Royal Radar Establishment was given to the existing Radar Research Establishment following a visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957. Both names were abbreviated to RRE. The establishment had been formed, under its first name, in 1953 by merging the Telecommunications Research Establishment ...
(wartime scientist working on radar), and designed the Royal Radar Establishment Automatic ComputerRoyal Radar Establishment Automatic ComputerThe Royal Radar Establishment Automatic Computer, or the RREAC, was Britain's first solid-state computer in 1962. It was made with transistors; Britain's previous experimental computers used the thermionic valve, also known as a vacuum tube.-Background:...
(RREAC) - the first transistor digital computer - John Marshall, Headmaster from 1960-77 of Robert Gordon's CollegeRobert Gordon's CollegeRobert Gordon's College is a private co-educational day school in Aberdeen, Scotland. The school caters for pupils from Nursery-S6.-History:...
, Aberdeen, and President from 1962-4 of the Headmasters' Association of Scotland - Henry Nimmo CBE, Chairman from 1948-54 of the Southern Electricity BoardSouthern ElectricSouthern Electric plc was an electricity company in the UK. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange as SSE . Southern Electric merged with Scottish Hydro-Electric plc in 1998 forming SSE. Since then SSE bought SWALEC and Atlantic Electric and Gas...
- James Bell PettigrewJames Bell PettigrewJames Bell Pettigrew, FRS FRSE FRCPE was a Scottish naturalist and museum curator. He was a distinguished naturalist in Edinburgh and London, and at St Andrews University from 1875 until his death...
, Chandos Professor of Medicine and AnatomyChandos Chair of Medicine and AnatomyThe Chandos Chair of Medicine and Anatomy is a Chair in Medicine and Anatomy of the University of St Andrews, Scotland. It was established in 1721, by a bequest of £1000 from James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos - then the Chancellor of the University...
from 1875-1908 at the University of St Andrews - Sir Thomas Thomson CBE, gastroenterologistGastroenterologyGastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
, and President from 1982-4 of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowThe Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that... - Prof Bill Watt, Regius Professor of Humanity in the University of Aberdeen from 1952-79
- Sir John Wilson, 1st BaronetSir John Wilson, 1st BaronetSir John Wilson, 1st Baronet was a businessman and Unionist politician in Scotland. He was Chairman of the Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company, and was Member of Parliament for Falkirk Burghs from 1895 to 1906....
, Liberal Unionist PartyLiberal Unionist PartyThe Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
MP from 1895-1906 for Falkirk BurghsFalkirk Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)Falkirk Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918. The constituency comprised the burghs of Falkirk, Airdrie, Hamilton, Lanark and Linlithgow, lying in Stirlingshire, Lanarkshire and Linlithgowshire.In 1918,...