Ellon Academy
Encyclopedia
Ellon Academy is a secondary comprehensive school in the Aberdeenshire
town of Ellon
.
It turned out to be only a temporary cure for the growing problem of congestion. With more pupils coming in every year, the school was facing a crisis. In the late 1930s, the famous bell tower, and headmaster's office, were destroyed to make room for a second extension. Eventually, in 1979, when the situation reached absolute breaking point, a second building was constructed.
Mr Tim McKay, who succeeded Dr Brian Wilkins at the beginning of the 2007-2008 session, and Deputy Rector Mrs G McClymont.
In 2005, the Education and Recreation department of Aberdeenshire Council began investigating the consolidation of the school at a single site.
To back the Academy's primary ethos of Equal Opportunities for All, the Academy has a large Learning Support department for students with learning difficulties. Ellon Academy won the Scottish Executive Education Award in 2002 in the category "Schools for All".
Prefects are chosen from the fifth and sixth year, as well as a Head Boy, a Head Girl, and their deputies. The prefects' duties include lunchtime patrols and assisting at events such as parents' evenings. Popularity with teachers plays a large part in who gets to be head boy/girl.
Head Boy 2010/11 - Kieren Murphy
Head Girl 2010/11 - Fiona Wallace
Ellon Academy was made a case point during a First Minister's Questions
, where it was criticized for its split campus layout and general disrepair. This prompted a visitation from Labour MSPs, and later from STV and BBC television crews.
In November 2008, Ellon Academy was awarded the Eco-Schools
Green Flag, the organisation's highest award, which accredits schools for their actions helping the environment. In January 2011, Ellon Academy was awarded a second Green Flag.
On 28 September 2009, the Scottish Government announced that Ellon Academy would be one of fourteen secondary schools in Scotland to be rebuilt as part of a £1.25 billion programme
Ellon Academy has also taken part in the dance/drama competition Rock Challenge for many years now at the Aberdeen event. Ellon won the competition in 2007 and attended the finals in Grimsby.
In May 2010, the Ellon Academy Senior Football team overcame Inverurie Academy 2-1 in the final of the North of Scotland Cup at North Lodge Park, home to Highland League side Formartine United F.C.
. The team, coached by Kevin Bartlet consisted of S4 to S6 pupils, had never previously played together before the tournament run began. Harrison Stewart scored a double to lift the cup in front of a bumper crowd.
In June 2010, Ellon Academy was shortlisted in the Global Citizenship Award category of the 2010 Scottish Education Awards.
9th May 2011 – The Ellon Academy senior football team retained the North of Scotland cup following a convincing 4-1 victory over Thurso Academy at the Highland Football Academy, Dingwall. Goals from Scott Gardner
, Campbell Foubister and a double from Callum Tremaine was enough to see Ellon lift the trophy for the second consecutive year. After the game, coach Kevin Bartlet stated his delight at winning the trophy and praised the pupils for their efforts and desire to represent the school.
Mr McKay has, since his arrival at the school made it clear that uniform
would be an important focus for the school under his new leadership. The uniform is rigorously enforced primarily by the registration teachers and also by class teaching staff.
In general pupils prefer to wear the "Ellon Academy" hood tops than the more traditional sweater. Equally some pupils wear the "Ellon Academy" fleeces to increase warmth as they are the only "coat" item permitted to be worn in classes. A recurring problem at the school is that of pupils choosing to wear training shoes. These are strictly forbidden outside of PE.
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
town of Ellon
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
.
History
Founded as Ellon Public School, the building was opened at 10:00AM, on 22 May 1876. It was responsible for the education of both primary and secondary students, and it wasn't until 1962 that the two were split into separate sites. Ellon Public School was overseen by headmaster William Cooper. It was a very different school from the one today, with only 6 classrooms, male and female. During early years, the overcrowding problem, that has haunted the school for years, started to become clear, and it was decided that a second story would be built. During the 24 year wait for the construction to begin, Ellon Public School became Ellon Secondary School. The second floor was completed in 1911.It turned out to be only a temporary cure for the growing problem of congestion. With more pupils coming in every year, the school was facing a crisis. In the late 1930s, the famous bell tower, and headmaster's office, were destroyed to make room for a second extension. Eventually, in 1979, when the situation reached absolute breaking point, a second building was constructed.
Today
The school has an estimated 1,150 local pupils and 100 teachers and is headed by RectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
Mr Tim McKay, who succeeded Dr Brian Wilkins at the beginning of the 2007-2008 session, and Deputy Rector Mrs G McClymont.
In 2005, the Education and Recreation department of Aberdeenshire Council began investigating the consolidation of the school at a single site.
To back the Academy's primary ethos of Equal Opportunities for All, the Academy has a large Learning Support department for students with learning difficulties. Ellon Academy won the Scottish Executive Education Award in 2002 in the category "Schools for All".
Prefects are chosen from the fifth and sixth year, as well as a Head Boy, a Head Girl, and their deputies. The prefects' duties include lunchtime patrols and assisting at events such as parents' evenings. Popularity with teachers plays a large part in who gets to be head boy/girl.
Head Boy 2010/11 - Kieren Murphy
Head Girl 2010/11 - Fiona Wallace
Ellon Academy was made a case point during a First Minister's Questions
First Minister's Questions
First Minister's Questions is the name given to the weekly questioning of the leaders of devolved administrations in the United Kingdom. First Minister's Questions works in a similar way to Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons....
, where it was criticized for its split campus layout and general disrepair. This prompted a visitation from Labour MSPs, and later from STV and BBC television crews.
In November 2008, Ellon Academy was awarded the Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools is an international program of environmental and sustainable developmental education for schools. Foundation for Environmental Education is the founder of the programme and Eco-Schools is just one out of their five programmes....
Green Flag, the organisation's highest award, which accredits schools for their actions helping the environment. In January 2011, Ellon Academy was awarded a second Green Flag.
On 28 September 2009, the Scottish Government announced that Ellon Academy would be one of fourteen secondary schools in Scotland to be rebuilt as part of a £1.25 billion programme
Ellon Academy has also taken part in the dance/drama competition Rock Challenge for many years now at the Aberdeen event. Ellon won the competition in 2007 and attended the finals in Grimsby.
In May 2010, the Ellon Academy Senior Football team overcame Inverurie Academy 2-1 in the final of the North of Scotland Cup at North Lodge Park, home to Highland League side Formartine United F.C.
Formartine United F.C.
Formartine United Football Club are a Scottish senior association football club from Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire currently playing in the Highland Football League. They joined the Highland League for the 2009–10 season, having been accepted into the League on the 25th February 2009...
. The team, coached by Kevin Bartlet consisted of S4 to S6 pupils, had never previously played together before the tournament run began. Harrison Stewart scored a double to lift the cup in front of a bumper crowd.
In June 2010, Ellon Academy was shortlisted in the Global Citizenship Award category of the 2010 Scottish Education Awards.
9th May 2011 – The Ellon Academy senior football team retained the North of Scotland cup following a convincing 4-1 victory over Thurso Academy at the Highland Football Academy, Dingwall. Goals from Scott Gardner
Scott Gardner
Scott Gardner is an English footballer. He plays for Eastwood Town after leaving Mansfield Town as a defender...
, Campbell Foubister and a double from Callum Tremaine was enough to see Ellon lift the trophy for the second consecutive year. After the game, coach Kevin Bartlet stated his delight at winning the trophy and praised the pupils for their efforts and desire to represent the school.
Uniform
Information as in the School OrganiserMr McKay has, since his arrival at the school made it clear that uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
would be an important focus for the school under his new leadership. The uniform is rigorously enforced primarily by the registration teachers and also by class teaching staff.
| The Uniform | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Top | White collared shirt with tie for S5/6 and a black "Ellon Academy" sweater | White collared shirt with tie for S5/6 and a black "Ellon Academy" sweater |
| Bottoms | Plain black trousers | Plain black trousers or skirt |
| Shoes | Black preferably proper leather shoes | Black preferably proper leather shoes |
In general pupils prefer to wear the "Ellon Academy" hood tops than the more traditional sweater. Equally some pupils wear the "Ellon Academy" fleeces to increase warmth as they are the only "coat" item permitted to be worn in classes. A recurring problem at the school is that of pupils choosing to wear training shoes. These are strictly forbidden outside of PE.