Bellahouston Academy
Encyclopedia
Bellahouston Academy is a non-denominational state-run secondary school
in Bellahouston
, south-west Glasgow
, Scotland
.
School Board in 1885, and has been a state school ever since. The school buildings have recently been refurbished to provide for 1100 pupils.
The site of the Academy was donated by the Misses Steven of Bellahouston whose generosity also provided the clocktower, and the building was designed by a Bath Street architect, Robert Balde. The advertisement which announced the opening of the Academy described it as a 'Boy's High Class School and Ladies' College'. For its first nine years the Academy struggled to function privately; with the opening of new schools in the area which were supported by rates and government grants, this became increasingly difficult, despite such economies as dispensing with the office and salary of the rector. In 1885 therefore, the Academy ceased to be a private school, and was sold for £15,000 to Govan Parish School Board who added a swimming pool, one of the first in Scotland.
The school was built to provide education for the children of the area who would otherwise have had to travel to Glasgow to the fashionable schools; not an easy journey as there was little public transport until the introduction of the tram in 1879.
In 1901 the Institute was opened to train pupil-teachers, but when this system was replaced in 1907 by a junior system, the Institute became part of the Academy, which by now had become a Secondary School and Junior Student Centre. In 1905 the main building was renovated and a new gymnasium and baths were built.
In 1919 the Academy passed into the care of the new Glasgow Education Authority, which itself was replaced in 1929 by the Education Committee of the Corporation of Glasgow. In the 1930s the Academy lost its title and was renamed Bellahouston Secondary School, but its name never changed locally, and like other schools, it was permitted to revert to its old title.
Pupils going to the school were disrupted by the building of the M8/M77 interchange which was completed in 1977. There was a major fire in 1991, part of the building was structurally damaged and had to be demolished. In 1996 the school returned to the refurbished main building, which is designed to hold 1,100 pupils.
The local Ibrox Complex is used to run league football; Bellahouston Ski Centre is used for ski-ing and snowboarding lessons. Golf is catered for at Haggs Castle Golf Course.
in 2003. The School of Sport specialises in five sports - athletics; gymnastics; hockey; badminton and swimming. 120 pupils combine sports and studies at this specialised Academy which was visited by double Olympic Gold Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes
. In 2005 the school under-16 football team won both the Glasgow League and Scottish Cup Final at Firhill in the same season.
- Actress
Jack Bruce
- Musician and songwriter, former vocalist / bassist with Cream
Derek Caldwell - lifesaver policeman, to Diana, Princess of Wales
.
Ian Durrant
- Ex Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Scotland footballer.
Peter Fleming - Three-time winner of the Glasgow Marathon.
Jimmy Logan
- Entertainer, Theatre Owner, Producer, Director, and Actor.
Chris McClure - Better known as the singer 'Christian'.
Chris Rainbow
- (Christopher Harley), Musician and Songwriter
Ferrier Richardson - Chef and restaurant owner and author of 'Glasgow On a Plate' series.
Andy Roxburgh
- Former professional footballer and Scotland Manager
Andy Scott
- Sculptor.
Russell Webb
- Guitarist with the Zones, The Skids, Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.
Chick Young
- Sports journalist and broadcaster.
2004 - Annie;
2005 - The Wizard of Oz;
2006 - Aladdin;
2007 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat;
March 2009 - Evening of Drama, Literature and Film;
June 2010 - Grease;
June 2011 - Little Shop of Horrors (currently in production)
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...
in Bellahouston
Bellahouston
Bellahouston is a district in the southwest of the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is bordered by Ibrox, Dumbreck and Pollokshields.-History:...
, south-west Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, 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...
.
History
Bellahouston Academy first opened in 1876 as a private school, run by Alexander Sim. It was taken over by the GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
School Board in 1885, and has been a state school ever since. The school buildings have recently been refurbished to provide for 1100 pupils.
The site of the Academy was donated by the Misses Steven of Bellahouston whose generosity also provided the clocktower, and the building was designed by a Bath Street architect, Robert Balde. The advertisement which announced the opening of the Academy described it as a 'Boy's High Class School and Ladies' College'. For its first nine years the Academy struggled to function privately; with the opening of new schools in the area which were supported by rates and government grants, this became increasingly difficult, despite such economies as dispensing with the office and salary of the rector. In 1885 therefore, the Academy ceased to be a private school, and was sold for £15,000 to Govan Parish School Board who added a swimming pool, one of the first in Scotland.
The school was built to provide education for the children of the area who would otherwise have had to travel to Glasgow to the fashionable schools; not an easy journey as there was little public transport until the introduction of the tram in 1879.
In 1901 the Institute was opened to train pupil-teachers, but when this system was replaced in 1907 by a junior system, the Institute became part of the Academy, which by now had become a Secondary School and Junior Student Centre. In 1905 the main building was renovated and a new gymnasium and baths were built.
In 1919 the Academy passed into the care of the new Glasgow Education Authority, which itself was replaced in 1929 by the Education Committee of the Corporation of Glasgow. In the 1930s the Academy lost its title and was renamed Bellahouston Secondary School, but its name never changed locally, and like other schools, it was permitted to revert to its old title.
New School
In 1962 the modern building in Gower Terrace was opened and took in pupils and staff from Pollokshields Secondary. It became a comprehensive, known to generations of pupils as "Hell's a'bustin Academy," in the late 1960s. A BBC TV series 'This Man Craig' was filmed at Bellahouston Academy featuring the actor John Cairney, famous for his portrayals of Robert Burns. In 1973,due to increasing numbers, the old building on Paisley Road West was re-opened, but was better known as 'Colditz' to its pupils. This building was later converted to a Muslim school called Iqra Academy, which was closed by OFSTED due to its poor educational standards. It is now an Ethnic Minority Business Centre.Pupils going to the school were disrupted by the building of the M8/M77 interchange which was completed in 1977. There was a major fire in 1991, part of the building was structurally damaged and had to be demolished. In 1996 the school returned to the refurbished main building, which is designed to hold 1,100 pupils.
Curriculum
The school is non-denominational and co-educational, and the current roll [2007-08] is 904 pupils. The school has departments in the following subjects - Art, Business Education, English and Drama, Geography, History, Home Economics, Information Technology, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Modern Studies, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science [Biology, Chemistry, Physics] and a Technical Dept.The local Ibrox Complex is used to run league football; Bellahouston Ski Centre is used for ski-ing and snowboarding lessons. Golf is catered for at Haggs Castle Golf Course.
Glasgow School of Sport
Scotland's first school dedicated to sport has been developed at Bellahouston Academy. The Glasgow School of Sport aims to develop the talents of young sportsmen and women. The Sports Hall was completed in October 2002, and was opened by The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
in 2003. The School of Sport specialises in five sports - athletics; gymnastics; hockey; badminton and swimming. 120 pupils combine sports and studies at this specialised Academy which was visited by double Olympic Gold Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE, MBE is a retired British middle distance athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
. In 2005 the school under-16 football team won both the Glasgow League and Scottish Cup Final at Firhill in the same season.
Notable former pupils
Shabana BakhshShabana Bakhsh
Shabana Akhtar Bakhsh is a Scottish actress of Pakistani descent who has appeared in soaps such as River City and Doctors. Her most recent and best-known role is in Waterloo Road starring as Jasmine Koreshi.-Biography:...
- Actress
Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
- Musician and songwriter, former vocalist / bassist with Cream
Derek Caldwell - lifesaver policeman, to Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Ian Durrant
Ian Durrant
Ian Durrant is a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Rangers, Kilmarnock and the Scotland national team...
- Ex Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Scotland footballer.
Peter Fleming - Three-time winner of the Glasgow Marathon.
Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...
- Entertainer, Theatre Owner, Producer, Director, and Actor.
Chris McClure - Better known as the singer 'Christian'.
Chris Rainbow
Chris Rainbow
Chris Rainbow is a Scottish rock singer and musician who had two minor hit songs, "Give Me What I Cry For" and "Solid State Brain" in the 1970s....
- (Christopher Harley), Musician and Songwriter
Ferrier Richardson - Chef and restaurant owner and author of 'Glasgow On a Plate' series.
Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh is a former Scottish football player and coach. He has been UEFA Technical Director since 1994.- Playing career :...
- Former professional footballer and Scotland Manager
Andy Scott
Andy Scott (sculptor)
Andy Scott is a Scottish figurative sculptor in galvanised steel, fibreglass, and cast bronze. He is based in Maryhill, Glasgow, and specialises in public art...
- Sculptor.
Russell Webb
Russell Webb
Russell Irving Webb is a retired water polo player from the United States. He played in two consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1968. He won a bronze medal with the Men's National Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.He is now a practicing oral...
- Guitarist with the Zones, The Skids, Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.
Chick Young
Chick Young
Charles "Chick" Young is a professional association football pundit, who regularly appears for BBC Scotland on Sportscene and Sportsound...
- Sports journalist and broadcaster.
Annual School Shows
2003 - Grease;2004 - Annie;
2005 - The Wizard of Oz;
2006 - Aladdin;
2007 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat;
March 2009 - Evening of Drama, Literature and Film;
June 2010 - Grease;
June 2011 - Little Shop of Horrors (currently in production)