Albyn School
Encyclopedia
The Albyn School is a private, independent educational establishment, founded in 1867 in Aberdeen
, Scotland
. It is located on Queens Road and Forest Road. Albyn was originally an all-girls school before becoming co-educational in 2005. The school has a nursery
, primary school and secondary school
; pupils can attend from 2 years old to 18 years old.
In the past its main sporting and academic competitor was considered to be St Margaret's School for Girls
, as it was the other all-girls school in the city. Despite Albyn becoming co-ed, a healthy rivalry remains, particularly in the sport of hockey
, but most would agree Albyn excels when it comes to sport, particularly hockey and netball.
The school started with a kindergarten and primary section, and in addition to core subjects it also offered music, dancing, drawing and painting. The upper school was focused on university entrance exams in English and literature, mathematics, science, and languages. In 1911, the school was equipped with science laboratories.
in Buchan
, where his father was the head gardener. His early schooling was at the Free Church Institution in Macduff
. In 1872, he obtained his MA
Honors degree at King's College, Aberdeen
, as well as the Seafield Gold Medal in English.
His teaching career began at Union Place School for Girls, founded by Harriet Warrack. When Warrack retired from teaching in 1886, Mackie took over the management of the school, and Union Place School for Girls changed locations and became known as Albyn. Mackie was principal of Albyn until his death in June 1915. Before his death, Mackie was appointed to the committee of the city library and he was elected Examiner in English at the University of Aberdeen
.
Mackie gave up teaching at the beginning of the 1914–1915 session, and was absent for much of the year. He died hours after the school closed for the summer holiday on June 25, 1915, shortly before his sixtieth birthday. He was buried in Springbank Cemetery, Aberdeen. The smaller 'Lower School' library was dedicated to him.
with her husband. She became a well-known figure of the local community and when she died her husband donated a substantial sum to the local independent boys’ school, Kearsney College
. This was used to construct a new school hall named the Margaret Henderson Hall in her honor.
The board appointed Dorothy Kidd (1916–2004) as headmistress; she held the positions for 18 years from 1958 to 1976, during which the school opened the new hall, gym, and new science labs and celebrated its centenary in 1967.
On her retirement in 1976, Miss Kidd was succeeded by Miss Christine Campbell, who had previously been headmistress of St Bride's, a girls school in Helensburgh
that subsequently became Lomond School. Miss Campbell's tenure ended due to ill health and she died in 1982. Miss Catherine Morrison, head of English, deputy head, served as acting head from January to December 1982.
Miss Norma Smith, a chemist, was appointed as headmistress in December 1982 for 15 years until retiring in 1997. She oversaw the construction of the new science block on the south side of the playground, opened by the vice chancellor of Aberdeen University in 1992 and dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Kidd. Smith was followed in office by Sheena Taylor, who joined Albyn from Torry Academy, where she had been assistant head and English teacher and in 1999, she was replaced by Miss Jennifer Leslie. Miss Leslie had been a long-standing member of staff who as Head of Modern Languages and then Deputy Head. On Miss Leslie's retirement in 2002, the Board appointed Dr John Halliday, the first male Head since Mackie.
In November 2004 the School revitalized the nursery provision, opened a baby and toddler unit in the former home economics building. Albyn was the first school in Scotland to open a nursery for children aged 3 months and upwards.
In 2009 and 2010 consecutively, Albyn School received the best Higher exam results among the schools in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is located on Queens Road and Forest Road. Albyn was originally an all-girls school before becoming co-educational in 2005. The school has a nursery
Nursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
, primary school and secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
; pupils can attend from 2 years old to 18 years old.
In the past its main sporting and academic competitor was considered to be St Margaret's School for Girls
St Margaret's School for Girls
St Margaret's School for Girls is a girl's school in Aberdeen, Scotland.-History:Since August 2005, St Margaret's is the only remaining school in the North of Scotland that caters exclusively to girls' education in primary and secondary departments for girls aged 5–18...
, as it was the other all-girls school in the city. Despite Albyn becoming co-ed, a healthy rivalry remains, particularly in the sport of hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, but most would agree Albyn excels when it comes to sport, particularly hockey and netball.
History
In 1886 the school moved into premises at Nos 4-6 in a terrace diagonally opposite St. Margaret’s School and was officially known as the Albyn Place School for Girls, but most people knew it as "Mackie's", because the reputation of principal Alexander Mackie. In 1967, the school celebrated its centenary. Under the direction of Headmistress Dorothy Kidd, a volume was produced outlining the school's history.The school started with a kindergarten and primary section, and in addition to core subjects it also offered music, dancing, drawing and painting. The upper school was focused on university entrance exams in English and literature, mathematics, science, and languages. In 1911, the school was equipped with science laboratories.
Alexander Mackie
Alexander Mackie (1855–1915) was born in at Delgatie CastleDelgatie Castle
Delgatie Castle is a castle near Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.A castle has stood on the site of Delgatie Castle since the year 1030 AD, although the earliest parts of the castle standing today were built between 1570 and 1579...
in Buchan
Buchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, where his father was the head gardener. His early schooling was at the Free Church Institution in Macduff
Macduff, Aberdeenshire
Macduff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Macduff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Banff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
. In 1872, he obtained his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
Honors degree at King's College, Aberdeen
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
, as well as the Seafield Gold Medal in English.
His teaching career began at Union Place School for Girls, founded by Harriet Warrack. When Warrack retired from teaching in 1886, Mackie took over the management of the school, and Union Place School for Girls changed locations and became known as Albyn. Mackie was principal of Albyn until his death in June 1915. Before his death, Mackie was appointed to the committee of the city library and he was elected Examiner in English at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The 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...
.
Mackie gave up teaching at the beginning of the 1914–1915 session, and was absent for much of the year. He died hours after the school closed for the summer holiday on June 25, 1915, shortly before his sixtieth birthday. He was buried in Springbank Cemetery, Aberdeen. The smaller 'Lower School' library was dedicated to him.
Margaret Thirde
Miss Margaret Thirde was appointed in 1915 as the third Head of Albyn, following Alexander Mackie. Like Mackie, she also taught English. In late 1919, she resigned her post to get married, and moved to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with her husband. She became a well-known figure of the local community and when she died her husband donated a substantial sum to the local independent boys’ school, Kearsney College
Kearsney College
Kearsney College is a private boarding school for boys in Botha's Hill, a small town that lies between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the largest city of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa.- History :...
. This was used to construct a new school hall named the Margaret Henderson Hall in her honor.
Miss Oliver
Miss E. C. S. Oliver, who retired in 1948 after 28 years in office, was appointed as headmistress in January 1920. Under her management, the school moved to the more spacious surroundings of Queen's Road. The school had acquired No 21 as a boarding house and purchased 19 and 23. The school was now equipped with tennis courts and electric lighting, and hockey was played on rough pitches at Kepplestone. During her tenure, there were numerous developments in curriculum including the arts, sport and political and moral debate, and comportment.Modern era
In her final act of devotion to Albyn, instead of selling Albyn to her successor for her own profit, Miss Oliver arranged for the appointment of a board of governors and the creation of the Albyn School for Girls Ltd, a company run as a charitable trust. She donated the school to that company, membership of which was open to former pupils and certain honorary members only. In January 1949, the new board appointed Miss Walker, who led the school through recognition of Grant Aided Status, acquisition of the Summerhill playing fields and sustained development. Mrs IM Fowlie, vice chairman on the original board, soon became chairman and led the School for two decades, providing continuity of strategic planning and development.The board appointed Dorothy Kidd (1916–2004) as headmistress; she held the positions for 18 years from 1958 to 1976, during which the school opened the new hall, gym, and new science labs and celebrated its centenary in 1967.
On her retirement in 1976, Miss Kidd was succeeded by Miss Christine Campbell, who had previously been headmistress of St Bride's, a girls school in Helensburgh
Helensburgh
Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....
that subsequently became Lomond School. Miss Campbell's tenure ended due to ill health and she died in 1982. Miss Catherine Morrison, head of English, deputy head, served as acting head from January to December 1982.
Miss Norma Smith, a chemist, was appointed as headmistress in December 1982 for 15 years until retiring in 1997. She oversaw the construction of the new science block on the south side of the playground, opened by the vice chancellor of Aberdeen University in 1992 and dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Kidd. Smith was followed in office by Sheena Taylor, who joined Albyn from Torry Academy, where she had been assistant head and English teacher and in 1999, she was replaced by Miss Jennifer Leslie. Miss Leslie had been a long-standing member of staff who as Head of Modern Languages and then Deputy Head. On Miss Leslie's retirement in 2002, the Board appointed Dr John Halliday, the first male Head since Mackie.
In November 2004 the School revitalized the nursery provision, opened a baby and toddler unit in the former home economics building. Albyn was the first school in Scotland to open a nursery for children aged 3 months and upwards.
Co-education: The Beginning of a New Age for Albyn
In January 2005, the Board announced a programme of co-education over the next 8 years. The first boys were admitted to the Lower School, up to Primary 5, in August 2005, and they will remain the oldest boys as the school becomes fully co-educational by September 2013. Construction of a brand-new primary school building was completed and other developments include the construction of a new classroom block and renovation of the science laboratory facilities.In 2009 and 2010 consecutively, Albyn School received the best Higher exam results among the schools in Aberdeen.