Donaldson's College
Encyclopedia
Donaldson's School, in Linlithgow
is Scotland
's national residential and day school, providing education, therapy and care for pupils who are deaf or who have communication difficulties.
in 1851 as Donaldson's Hospital by James Donaldson
(1751–1830), who, for a time, was publisher of the Edinburgh Advertiser
. The original benefaction allowed for special bursaries for poor children. Not all were deaf, although applications on behalf of deaf children were encouraged. From 1938, pupils were exclusively deaf. This benefaction was similar in style to the benefaction of George Watson
, who founded and supported other schools in Edinburgh.
Queen Victoria is said to have been jealous of the landmark William Henry Playfair
building in Edinburgh, apparently stating that it outclassed some of her palaces.
During a German
air raid
in 1916, much glass
was destroyed by a zeppelin
.
The school retained use of the building until a brand new, purpose-built Donaldson's campus opened in the nearby town of Linlithgow
in January 2008. The new campus, which has facilities for up to 120 pupils, puts Scotland on the map as a centre of excellence for children who are deaf or have communication difficulties.
As a national Grant Aided Special School (GASS) supported by the Scottish Government the central location of the new site makes the facilities more accessible to pupils from all over Scotland and the north of England.
The new Donaldson’s School was developed in collaboration with staff, pupils, governors, acousticians
and architects
. Its modern design is ideally suited to the needs of the pupils and is in keeping with its landscape and surroundings, being built with particular focus on energy efficiency
and the environment.
Donaldson’s teaches pupils in an environment of inclusive communication including the use of British Sign Language
(BSL), Signed Supported English and spoken English, and caters for children and young people from two and a half years to 24 years. The curriculum is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of teachers who are supported by classroom assistants and residential care workers, providing round the clock education and care. The team includes: teachers of the deaf; speech and language therapists; an educational psychologist; an educational audiologist
; a physiotherapist; an occupational therapist
; deaf studies tutors; and subject teachers.
Shared teaching, sports and dining facilities form a hub linking two teaching wings — the nursery / primary and secondary
schools. Both schools are grouped around individual play spaces with links and views across the surrounding area. Facilities include a gym, swimming pool, fitness room, dining room, library, and assembly hall as well as a "life skills room" and art studio. Classrooms, each of which accommodates six pupils, feature soundfield systems and interactive whiteboards.
To reinforce the separation of home and school and allow a much more domestic scale and feel, Donaldson's Lodge (residential accommodation) has 24 rooms placed in a separate building at the edge of the site. The modern building incorporates bedrooms split into three units with its own kitchen, dining and living space, providing a sense of community and family.
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
is 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...
's national residential and day school, providing education, therapy and care for pupils who are deaf or who have communication difficulties.
Headteacher and management team
Janice MacNeill is the Principal & Chief Executive of the Donaldsons trust she is assisted by the Headteacher Mary O'Brien and Depute Headteacher Carol Binnie.History
Donaldson's was founded in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1851 as Donaldson's Hospital by James Donaldson
James Donaldson (publisher)
James Donaldson was a Scottish printer and newspaper publisher. He bequeathed a large part of his estate to the founding of Donaldson's Hospital.-Early life:Donaldson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1751...
(1751–1830), who, for a time, was publisher of the Edinburgh Advertiser
Edinburgh Advertiser
The Edinburgh Advertiser was a twice-weekly newspaper published in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Tuesday and Friday mornings for almost a century. At the time of its inception, it was the only newspaper published on these days of the week in Edinburgh. It ran from 3 January 1764 until 29 March 1859 when...
. The original benefaction allowed for special bursaries for poor children. Not all were deaf, although applications on behalf of deaf children were encouraged. From 1938, pupils were exclusively deaf. This benefaction was similar in style to the benefaction of George Watson
George Watson (accountant)
George Watson, was born in Scotland to parents John Watson and Marion Ewing. He was orphaned at an early age, but thanks to his aunt, Elizabeth Davidson, he was sent in 1672 to be educated in book-keeping at Rotterdam. He returned to Edinburgh to become, in 1676, private secretary to Sir James Dick...
, who founded and supported other schools in Edinburgh.
Queen Victoria is said to have been jealous of the landmark William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
building in Edinburgh, apparently stating that it outclassed some of her palaces.
During a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
in 1916, much glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
was destroyed by a zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
.
Move to modern school
After more than 150 years based in the Playfair building, Donaldson's finally concluded that the building was no longer fit for purpose. Many of the rooms were no longer in use, classrooms were unable to utilise the latest educational technology and the Trust could no longer afford to maintain the building. Therefore in 2003 the school's building was put up for sale and was purchased by Scottish property developer Cala Homes.The school retained use of the building until a brand new, purpose-built Donaldson's campus opened in the nearby town of Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
in January 2008. The new campus, which has facilities for up to 120 pupils, puts Scotland on the map as a centre of excellence for children who are deaf or have communication difficulties.
As a national Grant Aided Special School (GASS) supported by the Scottish Government the central location of the new site makes the facilities more accessible to pupils from all over Scotland and the north of England.
The new Donaldson’s School was developed in collaboration with staff, pupils, governors, acousticians
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
and architects
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. Its modern design is ideally suited to the needs of the pupils and is in keeping with its landscape and surroundings, being built with particular focus on energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
and the environment.
Donaldson’s teaches pupils in an environment of inclusive communication including the use of British Sign Language
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
(BSL), Signed Supported English and spoken English, and caters for children and young people from two and a half years to 24 years. The curriculum is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of teachers who are supported by classroom assistants and residential care workers, providing round the clock education and care. The team includes: teachers of the deaf; speech and language therapists; an educational psychologist; an educational audiologist
Audiology
Audiology is the branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. Its practitioners, who treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage are audiologists. Employing various testing strategies Audiology (from Latin , "to hear"; and from Greek , -logia) is...
; a physiotherapist; an occupational therapist
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
; deaf studies tutors; and subject teachers.
Shared teaching, sports and dining facilities form a hub linking two teaching wings — the nursery / primary and secondary
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...
schools. Both schools are grouped around individual play spaces with links and views across the surrounding area. Facilities include a gym, swimming pool, fitness room, dining room, library, and assembly hall as well as a "life skills room" and art studio. Classrooms, each of which accommodates six pupils, feature soundfield systems and interactive whiteboards.
To reinforce the separation of home and school and allow a much more domestic scale and feel, Donaldson's Lodge (residential accommodation) has 24 rooms placed in a separate building at the edge of the site. The modern building incorporates bedrooms split into three units with its own kitchen, dining and living space, providing a sense of community and family.