Queen Margaret Academy
Encyclopedia
Queen Margaret Academy is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the south of Ayr
in southwest Scotland
. Queen Margaret is state-run by South Ayrshire Council
and takes children aged 11 to 18 from the whole of South Ayrshire and parts of East Ayrshire
.
The original St Margaret's school was founded in 1856 in the building which is now St Margaret's Church Hall in Elba Street, Ayr. In 1893 the school moved to Whitletts Road where over seventy-three years it developed from a purely primary to a combined primary and secondary school. In August 1966, the secondary department moved to a new building in Mainholm Road, adjacent to Mainholm Academy, and was renamed Queen Margaret Academy; the primary department remained at Whitletts Road and was renamed St John's Primary School.
When the lower school leaving age rose to 16, both Queen Margaret and Mainholm Academies outgrew their accommodation. Consequently it was decided that Mainholm Academy should also occupy the entire site on Mainholm Road, and a new building be constructed to house the pupils of Queen Margaret Academy. Initially the site of the current Kyle Academy was considered, but felt to be too small. The current buildings in Dalmellington Road were officially opened in 1977. The school is beautifully sited amid green fields. Based on an experimental design, the teaching areas are located in one building with large open plan areas across for study and learning. Meanwhile the well equipped PE facilities, dinner hall and wing are in a separate building linked by a covered walkway. Attached to the school is the South Ayrshire Supported Learning Centre, which caters for pupils with specific educational needs.
Queen Margaret Academy is currently (as of 2011) in the top 50 (out of an approx total of 376) performing schools in Scotland.
. Pupils are expected to reflect this in both their academic studies, as well as in charitable work to help others.
The feast day of the school's patroness, Queen Margaret of Scotland, is celebrated on November 16 each year. It is a tradition in Queen Margaret Academy to mark this date with a day of special activities.
On the 13th of January 2011 one of the Dodds busses (PXI 5517) carrying 30 pupils hit a lollipop lady in suspicious circumstances involving being off-route and speeding. She later died in hospital.
On the 29th of May 2011, two pupils, Kaylee Dunlop ( currently S4 ) and Rachael Hawkins ( currently S4 ), organised a coffee morning for Badagry, Nigeria raising £525.55 .
Non - Uniform day will occur on the 2nd December 2011, it will cost each pupil a pound to wear non-uniform in order to raise money for Movember.
Heart Start day will occur on the 9th December 2011, pupils will also be allowed to wear non-uniform.
Depute Head Teachers (DHT): Mr Yule, Mr McFadden, Ms McMillan
School Priest : Father Kitchen
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
in southwest 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...
. Queen Margaret is state-run by South Ayrshire Council
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
and takes children aged 11 to 18 from the whole of South Ayrshire and parts of East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
.
The original St Margaret's school was founded in 1856 in the building which is now St Margaret's Church Hall in Elba Street, Ayr. In 1893 the school moved to Whitletts Road where over seventy-three years it developed from a purely primary to a combined primary and secondary school. In August 1966, the secondary department moved to a new building in Mainholm Road, adjacent to Mainholm Academy, and was renamed Queen Margaret Academy; the primary department remained at Whitletts Road and was renamed St John's Primary School.
When the lower school leaving age rose to 16, both Queen Margaret and Mainholm Academies outgrew their accommodation. Consequently it was decided that Mainholm Academy should also occupy the entire site on Mainholm Road, and a new building be constructed to house the pupils of Queen Margaret Academy. Initially the site of the current Kyle Academy was considered, but felt to be too small. The current buildings in Dalmellington Road were officially opened in 1977. The school is beautifully sited amid green fields. Based on an experimental design, the teaching areas are located in one building with large open plan areas across for study and learning. Meanwhile the well equipped PE facilities, dinner hall and wing are in a separate building linked by a covered walkway. Attached to the school is the South Ayrshire Supported Learning Centre, which caters for pupils with specific educational needs.
Queen Margaret Academy is currently (as of 2011) in the top 50 (out of an approx total of 376) performing schools in Scotland.
Motto
The school motto is Omne Opus Bonum which is Latin for every good work. This is also in the school ethosEthos
Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence its hearer's emotions, behaviors, and even morals. Early Greek stories of...
. Pupils are expected to reflect this in both their academic studies, as well as in charitable work to help others.
Noticeable Events
Queen Margaret Academy begun an inspiring challenge to construct a hospital in Badagry, Nigeria by raising over £100,000 , this was first thought of by former Geography teacher Sister Louise. Since then ( with help from other organisations ) the hospital has been built and is now operating successfully within the area, however there are still hopes to fit it with sufficient medical equipment.The feast day of the school's patroness, Queen Margaret of Scotland, is celebrated on November 16 each year. It is a tradition in Queen Margaret Academy to mark this date with a day of special activities.
On the 13th of January 2011 one of the Dodds busses (PXI 5517) carrying 30 pupils hit a lollipop lady in suspicious circumstances involving being off-route and speeding. She later died in hospital.
On the 29th of May 2011, two pupils, Kaylee Dunlop ( currently S4 ) and Rachael Hawkins ( currently S4 ), organised a coffee morning for Badagry, Nigeria raising £525.55 .
Current Events (for pupils and staff of QMA)
Movember - At present times, there is a competition between several teachers for the best moustache, this in order to collect money for raising awareness of Men's prostate cancer. It costs 50p or a donation per vote.Non - Uniform day will occur on the 2nd December 2011, it will cost each pupil a pound to wear non-uniform in order to raise money for Movember.
Heart Start day will occur on the 9th December 2011, pupils will also be allowed to wear non-uniform.
Staff and Departments
Head Teacher: Mrs Moira GrayDepute Head Teachers (DHT): Mr Yule, Mr McFadden, Ms McMillan
- ArtArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
Mrs Parham (PT), Mrs Daly, Mrs Fergusson, Miss Smith & Mr Yule (DHT) - Business StudiesBusiness studiesBusiness studies is an academic subject taught at higher level in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, as well as at university level in many countries...
Ms Gillgalon (PT), Mrs Robertson - ComputingComputingComputing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
Mr McGee (PT) & Mrs Gilliespie - EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Miss McGhie (PT), Mrs O'Neil, Mrs Patterson, Mrs Gibb, Mr Platt, Mrs Gillies, Ms McMillan (DHT) & Miss Harper (Drama) - GeographyGeographyGeography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
Mr Durnan (PT), Mr Mallon (Guidance) & Mrs Barr - HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
Mr Campbell (PT), Miss Kerr & Mr Tweddle - Home EconomicsHome EconomicsHome economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
Mrs Douglas (PT), Mrs Gallie - Maths Mr McGugan (PT), Miss Seery (PT Guidance), Miss Allen, Mr Fraser, Mrs Leishman, Mr Campbell & Mr McFadden (DHT)
- Modern Languages Mrs Doyle (PT), Mrs Coleman and Mrs Craw
- MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
Mrs McGugan (PT) & Mrs Strathearn - P.E Mrs Logan (PT), Mrs McAllister & Miss Nelson
- R.E.Religious educationIn secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
Mr McGuire (PT), Mrs Hutchison, Mrs McIntosh & Mrs Ridley - ScienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
Mr McLaughlin (PT) (Biology & Chemistry), Mr Mann (PT Guidance), Mrs Chidwick (Biology), Mr Gray (Physics), Mrs Walker (Physics) & Dr Wilson (Chemistry) - Technological StudiesTechnological studiesTechnological Studies is part of the Scottish Standard Grade course.The base Standard Grade course includes:* Introduction to Systems* Pneumatic Systems* Applied Electronics* Programmable Control* Mechanisms* Energy-Further Learning:...
Mrs Malakoty (PT), Mr Devlin & Mr McKay
School Priest : Father Kitchen
Notable former pupils
- Jenny ColganJenny ColganJenny Colgan is a British chick-lit novelist, author of romantic comedies such as "Amanda's Wedding", "Looking for Andrew McCarthy" and most recently "The Good,the Bad and the Dumped"...
, author. Her father was also a teacher of Technical and Guidance in the school - Stephen Craig, Managing Director of All Saints Spitalfields
- Brian WoodsBrian WoodsBrian Woods is a BAFTA award-winning British documentary film-maker, who founded and currently runs True Vision, an independent production company, which concentrates mainly on human rights-related subjects...
, Global Marketing Director, Angostura Ltd - Grant Kelly, entrepreneur, author and TV chef.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12182435
- Queen Margaret Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online
- Queen Margaret Academy
- QMA Talent Contest Website
- South Ayrshire Council