Aberdeen Grammar School
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Aberdeen Grammar School is one of twelve secondary schools in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. It has fostered minds such as that of the poet Lord Byron and more recently the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robin Cook.
History
Founding
Believed to have been founded in 1263 (but possibly earlier), Aberdeen Grammar School is one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom. The earliest date at which it is documented is in the Burgh Records of 1418, when the Lord Provost and Council nominated John Homyll as "Master of the Schools", in place of Andrew of Chivas.The school was originally located on Schoolhill, near the site of the current Robert Gordon's College where the curriculum consisted of Latin, Greek and ancient geography.
Recent History (post-1863)
During 1861-63 the school moved to its current quarters in Skene Street, a large granite building in Scottish baronial style officially opened on 23 October 1863. This allowed expansion of the curriculum to include English, mathematics, modern languages, art and gymnastics.Other buildings and extensions have been added to the 1863 building over time. These include the building now known as the Modern Language Block, although this was originally a primary school; new additions such as the science block, attached to the west wing; the theatre; and dining hall.
Originally a fee-paying boys' school, the Grammar became comprehensive and co-educational in the 1973-74 session when girls were first admitted. At this point it was renamed Rubislaw Academy, but was reverted to the traditional name a few years later after public pressure.
In 1988, the original building was devastated by a fire, destroying most of the rooms including the large library, a collection of Byron's notebooks, the trophy room and other classrooms, though the historic façade was mostly undamaged. The school was rebuilt a few years later, with modern facilities.
The school has the Rubislaw Playing Fields at a site about half a mile away. Shared with the former pupils' club, the location has rugby pitches with a stand, football pitches, grass hockey pitches and an Astroturf hockey pitch built in 2005.
Present Day
Today the school is run by the City of Aberdeen Council in accordance with the Scottish education system for state schools. In the 1998-99 academic year, the education of each pupil cost £2690 for the year.Subjects and qualifications
The curriculum provides for a wide range of subjects, and pupils are presented for Standard Grade, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher examinations through the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). There is an emphasis on the more traditional subjects such as mathematics, English and modern languages.Pupils and catchment area
There are currently 1154 pupils (2005) attending the school between the ages of approximately 12 to 18, the majority having attending the "feeder" primary schools in the catchment area. These are Ashley Road Primary [(website)], Gilcomstoun Primary [(website)], Mile-End Primary [(website)], Skene Square Primary and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary (a faith school). [(website)]. Children from other areas attend after successful application by parents.Extracurricular activities and sport
Sport
The school has a sporting tradition, and has a particular emphasis on boys' rugby union and girls' hockey. Each pupil spends one afternoon per week at the Rubislaw games field with their year.Pupils are allocated "Houses" when they begin school. Sports competitions take place between Houses. The four Houses are Byron, Dunn, Keith and Melvin.
There is also representation in golf, swimming, badminton, tennis and netball.
Culture
A yearly "School Show" is performed, under the auspices of the "Face the Music society". There is also a solely pupil-run theatre group which performs each year as part of the "Pied Piper society".There are musical evenings twice a year which showcase the school's musical talent. There are a concert band, jazz band, junior and senior choirs and a string orchestra. Lessons are available in brass, woodwind, strings, piano, guitar and percussion.
The school has won the British Debating Championship in recent years.
Uniform and Colours
Basic Uniform
The uniform features a navy blue blazer with the school logo on the breast pocket. A blue, white and red tie is worn with a white shirt. Black trousers are worn by boys, with girls having the option of either a skirt or trousers. Black shoes are compulsory.Colours
"Colours" designate achievement or rank. Pupils awarded Colours for achievement wear their uniform with gray ties and ribbon if the award is for skill in the arts, and blue ties and red ribbons for skill in sport. The colours are awarded in three skill levels:
- Junior Colours, generally awarded to those in third and fourth year; a ribbon sewn onto the top of the blazer pocket above the badge.
- Half Colours, awarded to fifth and sixth years; a tie of the appropriate colour to replace the normal one.
- Full Colours, only given to senior pupils; a ribbon sewn around all the edges of the blazer.
- Prefects: a white and red ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
- Sixth Years (who are not prefects): a single red ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
- Head Boy and Girl: two red ribbons and one white ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
Rectors
- Mr Graham Legge (2004-present)
- Mr William Johnston
- Mr Bert Gill
Head Boys and Head Girls
Head Boy Head Girl Depute Head Boy Depute Head Girl 2006 - 2007 Gordon Russell Helen Clunas John Dargie Carla Plasberg-Hill 2005 - 2006 Andrew Henderson Nathalie Graham Richard Dargie Jennie Love 2004 - 2005 Peter Cross Rose Grogan Andrew Dean Fiona Taylor 2003 - 2004 Michael Lloyd Gayle Harriman Grant Jamieson Lynne Wightman Former Pupils' Club
The school has a large and active Former Pupils' club which has members all over the world and a clubhouse at Queens Road opposite the extensive Rubislaw Playing Fields.The Club is home to one of Scotland's most successful rugby union teams, the Aberdeen GSFP RFC, which plays at Rubislaw Playing fields.
Famous alumni
- James Beattie. Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic at University of Aberdeen, Marischal College.
- Lord Byron, (pupil: 1794-1795). Poet. Famous poems include Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan (Byron). Lord Byron’s statue stands infront of the school.
- William Robinson Clark. Dean of Taunton and prebendary of Wells and Professor of Theology, mental and moral philosophy at University of Toronto, Canada.
- Robin Cook. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
- Alexander Cruden, Theologian, author of Cruden's Bible Concordance.
- Sir James Donaldson. Principal of University of St Andrews, Professor of Humanity at University of Aberdeen, Rector of Stirling High School and also Royal High School of Edinburgh.
- David Gregory. Professor of Mathematics at University of Edinburgh, Savilian Professor of Astronomy at University of Oxford. Commentator on Isaac Newton's Principia.
- David William Lacy, (pupil: 1963-1965). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- James Legge. First Professor of Chinese at Oxford University.
- James Fraser McLuskey, (pupil: 1920-1931). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- David Masson. Scottish writer.
- Andrew J. Milne, (pupil:1844-1846). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- David West, (pupil: 1868-1936). Scottish watercolour painter.
Contact details
- Aberdeen Grammar School, Skene Street, Aberdeen AB10 1HT.
- Tel: +44 (0)1224 642299
- Fax: +44 (0)1224 627413
- Email: [mailto:office@grammar.org.uk office@grammar.org.uk]
References
Much of the information in this article is adapted from the school's prospectus and the annual magazine of the Former Pupils' Club. The prospectus is publicly available from the school website in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format [link]. This has statistics including exam results, pupil numbers and details of teachers and the departments in which they serve.External links
- [Grammar School Webpage]
- [Former Pupils Club]
- [AGSFP Rugby]
- [AGSFP Hockey]
- [School Board]
- [HM School Inspectors' Report]
- [Hybrid Satellite Map of Schools Location]
- [Hybrid Satellite Map of the Former Pupils Club and the Schools Rubislaw Playing Fields]
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