John Paul Academy
Encyclopedia
John Paul Academy, is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the residential Area of Summerston
in Glasgow
. It mainly serves the areas of Summerston, Maryhill
, Ruchill
, Possilpark
and Milton
districts of Glasgow
and has a rough capacity of 800 pupils. The Catchment area
for the school has changed since the mid-late 1990s; the areas of Ruchill, Possilpark and Milton were provided by St Augustine's Roman Catholic Secondary School within Milton area, whilst the areas of Bearsden
and Milngavie
had their children of Catholic denomination taught at JPA.
Opened in 1982 by the then Strathclyde Regional Council it is named after Pope John Paul II
who visited Glasgow
and hosted an open-air mass in Bellahouston Park
during that year.
The School's motto - In Scientia Caritas Abundet, "In Knowledge May Goodness Abound", can be found on the school crest. It consists of the Pope's Episcopal Mitre, The Eagle of Saint John and Saint Paul's sword.
The original head teacher was the late Mr Eamon Rafferty. His post was then taken up by Miss Mary Weeple until she announced her decision to retire in 2007. Until session 2008/09, the temporary head teacher was Dr Charles Docherty PHD, who has also now retired. Mr Vincent Docherty, formerly Depute Head of St Andrew's in Clydebank, has been in the post almost 3 years and led significant change and improvement in the school.
In 2002 the school was closed for almost a month due to a fire which started during school hours, all pupils were evacuated safely without any injury.
In recent years the school has seen a rise in Standard Grade pass rates. Attainment at Higher level has also improved. The school's present campus officer, PC Peter Glancy, along with the work of an enhanced Pupil Support team and the creation of Pupil Support Leaders have all but eliminated the suspension and exclusion rate by employing a restorative and pupil centered approach to supporting pupils needs. The school has recently welcomed pupils from the now closed St Joan of Arc School into a dedicated unit within the school. This unit provides support for young people with additional learning needs who benefit from access to mainstream classes, with specialist support.
3ED, the company in charge of the refurbishment of all 29 of Glasgow's Secondary Schools completed their refurbishment of John Paul in 2003, making a vast improvement to the school.
In 2009, John Paul Academy gained the status of 'Most improved school in the Local Authority' and in 2010, Sycol accreditation as a 'Solutions Oriented School'.
In 2011 Sir Tom Hunter visited senior pupils studying a Leadership course.
The school has a growing network of subject blogs and is leading the way in the use of social web tools such as Twitter in the local authority.
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Summerston
Summerston is a residential area of Glasgow, Scotland. There is a riding school used by Strathclyde Police Mounted Branch. John Paul Academy, one of Glasgow's 11 Roman Catholic secondary schools is in Summerston. 4th Glasgow Beaver Colony and Cub Scout Pack are based in Summerston in Caldercuilt...
in 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...
. It mainly serves the areas of Summerston, Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
, Ruchill
Ruchill
Ruchill is a district in the city of Glasgow. It lies within the Canal Ward of North Glasgow in the area between the Maryhill and Possilpark areas of the city. It has traditionally been characterised by a high degree of deprivation and social problems...
, Possilpark
Possilpark
Possilpark is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow, situated north of the River Clyde. Following the closure of the Saracen Foundry in 1967, this section of Glasgow has become one of the poorest in the United Kingdom, with an above average crime rate....
and Milton
Milton, Glasgow
Milton is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde.Building on Milton in Glasgow started in the late 1940s as part of a general post-war construction programme by Glasgow Corporation to deal with the housing shortage and slum clearances.The housing scheme...
districts 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...
and has a rough capacity of 800 pupils. The Catchment area
Catchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
for the school has changed since the mid-late 1990s; the areas of Ruchill, Possilpark and Milton were provided by St Augustine's Roman Catholic Secondary School within Milton area, whilst the areas of Bearsden
Bearsden
Bearsden ) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the City Centre, and is effectively a suburb, with housing development coinciding with the introduction of a railway line in 1863, and from where the town gets its name...
and Milngavie
Milngavie
Milngavie , is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is on the Allander Water, at the northwestern edge of Greater Glasgow, and about from Glasgow city centre. It neighbours Bearsden....
had their children of Catholic denomination taught at JPA.
Opened in 1982 by the then Strathclyde Regional Council it is named after Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
who visited 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...
and hosted an open-air mass in Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park is a public park in the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland, between the areas of Mosspark, Craigton, Ibrox, and Dumbreck, covering an area of . It is based around Ibrox hill in the centre, with commanding views over most of the city, exceptions being views to the east that are...
during that year.
The School's motto - In Scientia Caritas Abundet, "In Knowledge May Goodness Abound", can be found on the school crest. It consists of the Pope's Episcopal Mitre, The Eagle of Saint John and Saint Paul's sword.
The original head teacher was the late Mr Eamon Rafferty. His post was then taken up by Miss Mary Weeple until she announced her decision to retire in 2007. Until session 2008/09, the temporary head teacher was Dr Charles Docherty PHD, who has also now retired. Mr Vincent Docherty, formerly Depute Head of St Andrew's in Clydebank, has been in the post almost 3 years and led significant change and improvement in the school.
In 2002 the school was closed for almost a month due to a fire which started during school hours, all pupils were evacuated safely without any injury.
In recent years the school has seen a rise in Standard Grade pass rates. Attainment at Higher level has also improved. The school's present campus officer, PC Peter Glancy, along with the work of an enhanced Pupil Support team and the creation of Pupil Support Leaders have all but eliminated the suspension and exclusion rate by employing a restorative and pupil centered approach to supporting pupils needs. The school has recently welcomed pupils from the now closed St Joan of Arc School into a dedicated unit within the school. This unit provides support for young people with additional learning needs who benefit from access to mainstream classes, with specialist support.
3ED, the company in charge of the refurbishment of all 29 of Glasgow's Secondary Schools completed their refurbishment of John Paul in 2003, making a vast improvement to the school.
In 2009, John Paul Academy gained the status of 'Most improved school in the Local Authority' and in 2010, Sycol accreditation as a 'Solutions Oriented School'.
In 2011 Sir Tom Hunter visited senior pupils studying a Leadership course.
The school has a growing network of subject blogs and is leading the way in the use of social web tools such as Twitter in the local authority.
External links
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