Wellington Academy
Encyclopedia
Wellington Academy was a secondary school
in Greenock
, Scotland
serving the Eastern and Central areas of the town.
It was opened in August 1990, as a result of a controversial merger with Cowdeknowes High School (now Notre Dame RC High School). The school campus fell into a state of disrepair. Although extensively refurbished when the building was taken over from being Grovepark High School, the school did not stand up well to the test of time. Various catchment area changes over the years saw the school left with just two feeder primary schools. The school was closed at the end of the 2007 summer term.
Many critics of Wellington's catchment area argued that it was always far too small and thus the school never would gain full potential. For example, school children from the east end Gibshill area of Greenock and western Port Glasgow attend Greenock Academy in the affluent West End - a school 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Gibshill and 2 miles (3.2 km) further west from Wellington's more central location.
and beyond. In the past it gained outstanding reports from HMIE Inspectors and also competed in many national events and contests such as Young Enterprise Scotland and the Stock Market Challenge. The pupil-teacher relationships at Wellington were excellent, and the school was commended for this in particular in these HMIE inspectors' reports.The small size of the school made it very popular with pupils - with around 500 pupils at the time of closure. The pupils also seemed to be very proud of their school with uniform uptake high and participation in events in the wider community representing Wellington also at a high level. Inverclyde Council decided that in June 2007, the school would shut and amalgamate with Greenock High School.
The new school has seven associated primary schools:
In addition, it continues to be common place for pupils from Gourock Primary and Skelmorlie Primary to go to the new school, as well as all other Inverclyde Schools if appropriate placing requests are granted.
In the planning process, the "new school" had an ambiguous working title of "West Inverclyde Secondary School". Parents and pupils in both current schools voted for the name "Inverclyde Academy" to be the chosen name for the new school - reflecting its wide catchment area.
Inverclyde Academy serves 50% of Inverclyde's population and has a catchment area stretching from Wemyss Bay - on the Inverclyde border) to Central Greenock. Its capacity will be around 1,200 pupils - making it easily the largest high school in Inverclyde and likely also the 2nd largest High School in the county of Renfrewshire - behind Park Mains High School in Erskine (with 1500 pupils). On opening in August it had approximately 950 pupils - with rolls split between the current Greenock High and Wellington campuses.
Parents of both schools fought hard to save each school - even election of a new local council of Liberal Democrat
councillors who assured Wellington would be safe if elected. This idea, though, fell by the wayside.
The school played host to a community wing on the first floor which was also a common room for sixth year pupils - a facility which was well used by pupils and also various youth clubs who use it.
The old Wellington building was refurbished in 2009 to take pupils in Notre Dame High School - whilst a new school is built on that site. Notre Dame are due to stay in that building for 2 years whilst their school is built. After that, St. Stephen's HS will move into the building temporarily for a 2 year period whilst their new joint campus with Port Glasgow High is built on the current St. Stephens site. After this, the school will be demolished, bringing to an end of over 100 years of educational establishments on that site.
New Standard Grades such as Drama as well as more Access subjects are being offered from August 2007 following the Inverclyde Academy opening.
Many students now at Wellington and throughout Inverclyde travel to other schools as "consortium" students to study certain highers. However, most Standard Grades which can be done at Wellington can also be followed up at an Intermediate or Higher Level. This is a problem which the new school aims to rectify - trying to offer as broad a curriculum as possible.In future, both campuses may offer different variations in subjects - as a result it's likely at least in the short term consortium arrangements will continue.
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 Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, 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...
serving the Eastern and Central areas of the town.
It was opened in August 1990, as a result of a controversial merger with Cowdeknowes High School (now Notre Dame RC High School). The school campus fell into a state of disrepair. Although extensively refurbished when the building was taken over from being Grovepark High School, the school did not stand up well to the test of time. Various catchment area changes over the years saw the school left with just two feeder primary schools. The school was closed at the end of the 2007 summer term.
Feeder primary schools
- Overton Primary - serving the Overton, Pennyfern and "the estates" areas of Greenock.
- Highlander's Academy Primary - serving the Town centre and the Bow Farm areas of Greenock.
Schools formerly associated with Wellington
- Hillend Primary School (1990 only)
- Oakfield Primary (until 2004) - serving the Weir Street, Muakinhill and Gibshill areas of Greenock.
- King's Glen Primary (until 2004) - serving the Leven Road, Clynder Road and Strone areas of Greenock.
- King's Oak Primary (2004-2006) - amalgamated Oakfield and King's Glen primaries, areas as above. Now associated with Port Glasgow High School/Greenock Academy.
- Lady Alice Primary - serving the Grieve Road and Barr's Cottage areas of Greenock. Now associated with Greenock High School.
Many critics of Wellington's catchment area argued that it was always far too small and thus the school never would gain full potential. For example, school children from the east end Gibshill area of Greenock and western Port Glasgow attend Greenock Academy in the affluent West End - a school 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Gibshill and 2 miles (3.2 km) further west from Wellington's more central location.
School background
The school had a very good reputation within not only Greenock but in InverclydeInverclyde
Inverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire - which current exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west...
and beyond. In the past it gained outstanding reports from HMIE Inspectors and also competed in many national events and contests such as Young Enterprise Scotland and the Stock Market Challenge. The pupil-teacher relationships at Wellington were excellent, and the school was commended for this in particular in these HMIE inspectors' reports.The small size of the school made it very popular with pupils - with around 500 pupils at the time of closure. The pupils also seemed to be very proud of their school with uniform uptake high and participation in events in the wider community representing Wellington also at a high level. Inverclyde Council decided that in June 2007, the school would shut and amalgamate with Greenock High School.
Closure and controversy
In June 2007, Wellington amalgamated with Greenock High School - a school suffering from falling school rolls and unsatisfactory accommodation issues (with capacity at 1,100 and it being half full). Both schools will merge into the one brand new school within the next three years at a school built on the site of the Ravenscraig Football Pitches - close to the current Greenock High site in the Spango Valley area of Greenock.The new school has seven associated primary schools:
- Highlanders Academy Primary
- Overton Primary
- Lady Alice Primary
- Earnhill Primary
- Ravenscraig Primary
- Inverkip Primary
- Wemyss Bay Primary
In addition, it continues to be common place for pupils from Gourock Primary and Skelmorlie Primary to go to the new school, as well as all other Inverclyde Schools if appropriate placing requests are granted.
In the planning process, the "new school" had an ambiguous working title of "West Inverclyde Secondary School". Parents and pupils in both current schools voted for the name "Inverclyde Academy" to be the chosen name for the new school - reflecting its wide catchment area.
Inverclyde Academy serves 50% of Inverclyde's population and has a catchment area stretching from Wemyss Bay - on the Inverclyde border) to Central Greenock. Its capacity will be around 1,200 pupils - making it easily the largest high school in Inverclyde and likely also the 2nd largest High School in the county of Renfrewshire - behind Park Mains High School in Erskine (with 1500 pupils). On opening in August it had approximately 950 pupils - with rolls split between the current Greenock High and Wellington campuses.
Parents of both schools fought hard to save each school - even election of a new local council of Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
councillors who assured Wellington would be safe if elected. This idea, though, fell by the wayside.
Facilities
Wellington also had a Nursery or Pre-School located in its campus as well as facilities for the disabled. It had a fitness suite as well as sports facilities. It also had a reputation for Learning Support and catering for additional needs and there were teacher training classrooms and Sport Scotland facilities located on site.The school played host to a community wing on the first floor which was also a common room for sixth year pupils - a facility which was well used by pupils and also various youth clubs who use it.
Changes at the top
The head teacher since the school's introduction (and the head of Cowdeknowes High before it) - Mr Jim McCallum - retired in December 2006. He was replaced by Mr Billy Paul - who was a current Deputy Head in the school until the school and Greenock High officially merged in June 2007.After amalgamation
In the "new" school, the S1 year group was transferred to the Greenock High "Spango Valley" campus. Pupils living in the former Wellington Catchment area get transport provided out to the valley. However, only pupils living in Broomhill or east of that get this transport provided for free.The old Wellington building was refurbished in 2009 to take pupils in Notre Dame High School - whilst a new school is built on that site. Notre Dame are due to stay in that building for 2 years whilst their school is built. After that, St. Stephen's HS will move into the building temporarily for a 2 year period whilst their new joint campus with Port Glasgow High is built on the current St. Stephens site. After this, the school will be demolished, bringing to an end of over 100 years of educational establishments on that site.
Standard grade subjects at Wellington
Subjects taught In Wellington at Standard Grade included:- Music
- Geography
- History
- Art
- Maths
- English
- French
- Italian (now only an option for pupils in the Wellington Campus of Inverclyde Academy)
- Administration
- Computing
- Home Economics
- Graphics
- Craft and Design
- Physical Education.
- Science Subjects (Biology, Science, Chemistry, and Physics)
- Drama
New Standard Grades such as Drama as well as more Access subjects are being offered from August 2007 following the Inverclyde Academy opening.
Many students now at Wellington and throughout Inverclyde travel to other schools as "consortium" students to study certain highers. However, most Standard Grades which can be done at Wellington can also be followed up at an Intermediate or Higher Level. This is a problem which the new school aims to rectify - trying to offer as broad a curriculum as possible.In future, both campuses may offer different variations in subjects - as a result it's likely at least in the short term consortium arrangements will continue.