Holyrood R.C. Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Holyrood Secondary School, commonly referred to as Holyrood, is a Catholic 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...

 in the south-side of 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...

. Holyrood is widely known as being Europe's largest state secondary school. It is near Crosshill railway station
Crosshill railway station
Crosshill railway station is a railway station serving the Crosshill area of Glasgow. It is located on the Cathcart Circle Line, but also has trains going to and from Neilston and Newton...

, Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...

, A728 and the new, M74 Motorway. Despite its size, Holyrood has historically been one of Scotland’s top-performing state schools and is renowned for its fundraising activities. The school has established a close partnership with Mary's Meals
Mary's meals
Mary's Meals is a school feeding movement and the name of a charity formerly known as Scottish International Relief . It was founded in 2002 and has grown from its first feeding operation of 200 children in Malawi, to a world-wide campaign, providing free school meals in hundreds of schools and...

, which saw former depute head, Tony Begley, resign from his position to take up a new role as the education co-ordinator of this nonprofitable charity. The school has also been at the forefront of fundraising for Malawi as well as Mary's Meals which involves under 30 pupils travelling to areas close to Blantyre to reconstruct, renovate and build schools. Many of its feeder schools have followed by example by incorporating Malawi into several aspects of the curriculum. Holyrood currently has 1966 pupils... S1: 386 S2: 386 S3: 354 S4: 353 S5: 321 S6: 166

The school is also the feature of a new BBC Documentary by Friel Kean films due to air in late 2011. The show, with a working title of "High School", will follow pupils and staff in the current academic year.

History

The school was founded in 1936 and originally functioned as a Senior Secondary with entry dependent on a high mark in the "Qualifying examination". In c.1971 the exam was abolished and all Scottish state schools became equal in terms of status, curriculum offered and examinations taken.

Malawi

Holyrood Malawi Partnership

This partnership has been described by Lord McConnell, Former First Minister, as one of the very best examples of a Scotland / Malawi partnership.

For 4 consecutive years a group of senior pupils has made the trip to Malawi and so far the partnership has constructed 8 new classrooms and refurbished a further 8 in Holyrood's partner schools. Thus, the learning environment for a large number of children has been improved.

Holyrood works in close partnership with the charity, Mary's Meals, whose ambition is to feed the starving children of the world through places of education. As a result, the partner schools are well attended and children receive a life saving daily meal and invaluable education but accommodation is critically short and in extremely poor condition.

A team of 30 young people has now been chosen for 2012 after a successful 4 years of the project and will continue the work in Malawi, led by the head teacher, Thomas McDonald.

The school has so far raised in excess of £75,000 for Malawi and has no sign of stopping yet.

Facilities

The original school building, designed by the firm of John Burnet, Son & Dick
John Burnet (architect)
John Burnet was a Scottish architect who lived and practised in Glasgow. He was born the son of soldier and trained initially as a carpenter, before becoming a Clerk of Works...

, was built in 1936, and is now protected as a category B listed building.

Over the years, the school has had renovation and additional blocks purposely built, this is known as the "new block" and "I.T. Wing". The I.T. Wing features top of the range computing facilities and security. The new block also features new classrooms for English, Religious education and Social Subjects.The school features over 20 purpose build I.T. Rooms and also hosts three drama studios, complete with sound and lighting effects. In addition, several wood work and metal workshops are situated as well as modern laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Nearly all classrooms within the school are fully equiped with state of the art SMART boards and projectors.

In 2001, Glasgow city council commissioned a modern sports centre to be built directly next to Holyrood, known as "Holyrood Sports Centre". The school has exclusive access during the day to all the facilities, with the centre being open at night to the public.
The sports centre features a full size synthetic floodlit pitch, 3 seven-a-side pitches, top quality changing rooms and shower accommodation. In additon, a open plan gym which can be split into two separate halls, a dance studio and a modern extensive fitness suite.
These facilties are used by all pupils for physical education and are an addition to the swimming pool and gymnastics hall.

Admissions

The school has a pupil roll of approximately 2,500 and 150 teachers making it one of the largest state comprehensive schools in Europe.
The school also plays host to John McGeady, English Teacher, former Sheffield United Player and father of Spartak Moscow
Spartak Moscow
Spartak Moscow may refer to the following teams based in Moscow, Russia:* FC Spartak Moscow, an association football club* HC Spartak Moscow, a professional ice hockey team* WBC Spartak Moscow, a women's basketball team...

 winger Aiden McGeady
Aiden McGeady
Aiden McGeady is a Scottish-born Irish footballer who currently plays as a winger for Russian club Spartak Moscow. Although born and brought up in Scotland, McGeady plays internationally for the Republic of Ireland, a country he qualifies for through his grandparents...

.

Notable former pupils

  • Scottish stand-up comics Des Clarke, Former Scottish Canadian of the Year Scott Agnew and Frankie Boyle
    Frankie Boyle
    Francis Martin Patrick "Frankie" Boyle is a British comedian and writer, well known for his pessimistic, often controversial sense of humour...

  • James Boyle
    James Boyle
    James Boyle is a Scottish legal academic who is currently the William Neal Reynolds Professor of Law and co-founder of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina....

     Broadcaster. Head of BBC Radio Scotland and controller of BBC Radio 4. Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council.
  • Alan Brazil
    Alan Brazil
    Alan Bernard Brazil is a Scottish former football player and broadcaster. He was a forward before retirement due to injury. He is now a radio presenter on Talksport.-Club career:...

     Scotland and Ipswich Town footballer
  • Bob Crampsey
    Bob Crampsey
    Robert "Bob" Crampsey was a Scottish association football historian, author and broadcaster, described as a "much loved Scottish cultural institution" by The Times...

     Teacher (including history teacher at Holyrood in the 1970s), broadcaster, journalist and historian. Human encyclopedia of football knowledge. Won Brain of Britain
    Brain of Britain
    Brain of Britain is a BBC radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann until his death in 1972.-Format:The format of the quiz is simple...

     1965. Reached semi-finals of Mastermind (TV series)
    Mastermind (TV series)
    Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...

     1973.
  • Jim Fitzpatrick
    Jim Fitzpatrick (politician)
    James Fitzpatrick is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Poplar and Limehouse since the 2010 General Election. From 1997 to the 2010 election he was the member for Poplar and Canning Town...

    , Labour MP for Poplar and Canning Town since 1997, and former London Fire Brigade
    London Fire Brigade
    The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...

     firefighter
  • Charlie Gallagher footballer
  • Fran Healy
    Francis Healy
    Francis "Fran" Healy is a Scottish musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their six studio albums. He is based in Berlin, Germany...

     (lead singer of Travis
    Travis (band)
    Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...

    )
  • Stephen Irvine drummer with Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
    Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
    Lloyd Cole and the Commotions were a British pop band that formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982. Between 1984 and 1989, the band scored four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK...

  • Liam Kane, ex-Managing Director of Daily Record and Sunday Mail newspapers, and Millenium Dome, and currently Chief Executive at East London Business Alliance.
  • Baron
    Baron
    Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...

    ess Kennedy of The Shaws
    Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws
    Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws QC, FRSA, is a British barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords. She is a former chair of the Human Genetics Commission, which advises the UK government on ethical, social, and legal issues arising from developments in...

    , lawyer, human rights activist and chair of the British Council
    British Council
    The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...

    .
  • Jim Kerr
    Jim Kerr
    James "Jim" Kerr is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Simple Minds who achieved five UK #1 albums and a #1 single "Ballad of the Streets EP". He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr, on the 27 May 2010.- Simple Minds :Kerr attended...

    , (lead singer), Charlie Burchill
    Charlie Burchill
    Charles "Charlie" Burchill is a Scottish musician and composer. He was one of the founders of Scottish rock group Simple Minds. He plays guitar, keyboard, saxophone, drums and violin.-Style:...

     and Brian McGee of Simple Minds
    Simple Minds
    Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...

    . (First year school photos of Kerr and Burchill can be found here )
  • Olympic
    Olympic Games
    The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

     400m runner Lee McConnell
    Lee McConnell
    Lee McConnell is a Scottish athlete, who competes in the 400 metres. She attended Holyrood R.C. Secondary School in Glasgow before graduating from Loughborough University in 2000 with a degree in Sports Science. She became the Scottish 200 metres champion in 2002, and 2005. She also won the 400...

  • Johnny McElhone
    Johnny McElhone
    John Francis "Johnny" McElhone is a Scottish guitarist and songwriter.Unusually, he has played with three, otherwise unconnected rock bands, who have all enjoyed a Top 20 presence in the UK Singles Chart. Indeed, two of those groups have repeated that feat in the UK Albums Chart...

     musician and songwriter of Altered Images
    Altered Images
    Altered Images were an early 1980s Scottish New Wave / post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had a string of chart hits between 1981 and 1983.-Early career:...

    , Hipsway
    Hipsway
    Hipsway were a Scottish pop/rock band.The band was formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner , and Harry Travers . Skinner and Travers had been members of the band Kites with Paul McGrath and Ian McGreevy before Hipsway formed...

     and Texas
    Texas (band)
    Texas are a Scottish pop band from Bearsden, near Glasgow, Scotland. They were founded by Johnny McElhone in 1986 and feature Sharleen Spiteri on lead vocals. Texas made their performing debut in March 1988 at Scotland's University of Dundee...

    . Also, Michael "Tich" Anderson and Tony McDaid of Altered Images
    Altered Images
    Altered Images were an early 1980s Scottish New Wave / post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had a string of chart hits between 1981 and 1983.-Early career:...

    . Also, Johnny's brother, Gerry McElhone, who managed both Altered Images and Hipsway, and contributed to songwriting for the former.
  • actor Joseph McFadden
    Joseph McFadden
    Joseph 'Joe' McFadden is a television actor...

  • Pat McFadden
    Pat McFadden (British politician)
    Patrick Bosco McFadden is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South East since 2005...

    , BIS
    Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...

     minister
  • John McGeady
    John McGeady
    John Thomas McGeady is a retired Scottish professional footballer who played as a Winger in Scotland, England and the United States...

     Sheffield United footballer, and father of Celtic and Republic of Ireland footballer, Aiden McGeady
    Aiden McGeady
    Aiden McGeady is a Scottish-born Irish footballer who currently plays as a winger for Russian club Spartak Moscow. Although born and brought up in Scotland, McGeady plays internationally for the Republic of Ireland, a country he qualifies for through his grandparents...

  • Paul McLaughlin
    Paul McLaughlin (businessman)
    Paul McLaughlin is Managing Director of Scotty Brand Ltd, a leadership organisation representing the food and drink sector in Scotland.He lives in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, with his wife, and daughter- Early life :...

     Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink
  • Robert McTaggart
    Robert McTaggart
    Robert McTaggart, known as Bob McTaggart was a Scottish shipbuilder and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central, representing the Labour Party. McTaggart was on the left of his party, and took up issues of unemployment and poor housing which affected his constituency...

    , Labour MP for Glasgow Central
    Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)
    Glasgow Central is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . In its current form, the constituency was first used in the general election of 2005, but there was also a Glasgow Central constituency from 1885 to 1997.- Boundaries :The Redistribution of Seats Act...

     from 1980-9
  • James Meechan
    James Meechan
    James Meechan is a Scottish-Canadian artist best known for his stained glass work.- Biography :Born in Glasgow, Scotland, during the Great Depression, Meechan attended Holyrood Secondary School before moving on to the Glasgow School of Art where he specialised in stained glass. He received...

    the stained glass artist,
  • Cornelius Murphy MBE Managing Director of the Builder Group Magazine 1983-1987
  • Jim McCalliog
    Jim McCalliog
    James "Jim" McCalliog is a Scottish former footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United and Southampton....

     footballer
  • Pat Crerand
    Pat Crerand
    Patrick Timothy "Paddy" Crerand is a Scottish-born former footballer of Irish descent. After six years at Celtic he moved to Manchester United where he was a member of teams that won the English League title twice, the FA Cup and European Cup...

     footballer
  • Willie Haughey Glasgow business tycoon
  • Charlie Gallagher Former Celtic and Republic of Ireland footballer


Alan Brazil, Charlie Burchill and Stephen Irvine all began school at Holyrood, in 1971, in the same form class: 1A. The pupils' seating arrangements being organised alphabetically by surname, Brazil and Burchill rubbed uniformed elbows for a year, before taking separate paths to fame. All three were taught by Bob Crampsey.

Chaplaincy

As the school is Roman Catholic it is served by a Religious education
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...

 (RE) department and a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...

, Father Anthony Gallagher of Christ the King, Kings Park
King's Park, Glasgow
King's Park is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde .-Geography:King's Park is a residential area, with a mixture of semi-detached houses, flats and luxury detached houses...

. Mass is offered most mornings in the School Oratory and every morning during Lent and Advent.

External links

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