Harlaw Academy
Encyclopedia
57°8′32"N 2°7′0"W
Harlaw Academy is a six year comprehensive
secondary school
situated some 200 yards from the junction of Union Street and Holburn Street in the centre of the city of Aberdeen
, Scotland
. It is directly adjacent to Aberdeen Grammar School
. The Academy draws most of its pupils from its associated primary schools, namely, Broomhill Primary School, Ferryhill Primary School
and Kaimhill Primary School, although many children come from other schools. John Murray has been headteacher since 1993, and has served in some capacity before that.
Originally founded as the Aberdeen High School for Girls in 1874, the first school building was raised at Little Belmont Street. The first building at 19 Albyn Place was designed by Archibald Simpson
, a prominent architect of the late 19th century. Harlaw originally had a primary department but this was phased out and the last primary pupils moved up in 1971. One hundred years after the school was established, Harlaw become co-educational and began admitting boys in 1974.
Examinations are offered at Standard, Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
In 1891 Mrs. Elmslie's Institution at 19 Albyn Place was bought for the school. This house was built by Archibald Simpson. After alteration to the interior the school moved there in 1893. As the school grew, extensions were made. 18 Albyn Place was acquired in 1920 and after a destructive fire in 1935 major reconstructions were planned. These were completed after the Second World War. This work was undertaken by Mr J. A. O. Allan and Mr D. J .A Ross for the Corporation of Aberdeen; it is to them that we owe the Hall, which matches the dignity and proportion the fine Simpson exterior of the mid-19th century.
The Former Pupils' Club established a fund for the acquisition of a playing field, and by the efforts of the Club and School a considerable sum was raised to help to build and equip the pavilion at the Playing Field at Hazlehead
.
From 1874 until 1912 Mr. John McBain, M.A., was Headmaster of the School. He was succeeded by Miss L. L. Ward, B.A., who had been Lady Elf of the School since 1894. By 1929, when Miss Ward retired, the size of the school had increased considerably. Her successor, Miss B. M. Rose, M.A., L.L.D., piloted the school through the hazards of the Second World War, the rebuilding programme, and the changes that came with the abolition of fees in 1947. When she retired in 1954 the school had over 1 000 pupils and a steadily increasing number of girls from First to Fourth Year were going on to University, Colleges and other institutions for further education.
Miss Rose was succeeded by Miss M. McNab , M.A., whose years of office saw great changes in organisation, two of which were radical. One was the phasing out of the primary department, which ceased to exist at the end of Session 1970-71, with an accompanying gradual increase in the number of secondary pupils. The other arose from the planning of the city's area comprehensive system which brought about in 1970 the changing of the school's name to Harlaw Academy and the first unselective entry, of girls only, from four neighbouring primary schools. On Miss McNab's retirement in July, 1971, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, B.Sc., became Headmaster and early in the new session plans began to be made for Ruthrieston Secondary School to become part of Harlaw Academy the following Session, ceasing to be a separate entity on the retiral of Mr. Garden on 24 November 1972.
Ruthrieston Secondary School was the oldest of its type in Aberdeen, having become a school solely for post-primary pupils in 1922. It had been established as an all-age village school in the 19th century. Until 1954 only a three-year course was provided; thereafter fourth-year pupils were presented for appropriate examinations and, after 1962, for the S.C.E Ordinary Grade examinations, with opportunity for the S.C.E Higher Grade examinations to be studied at one of the Grammar Schools or Senior Secondary Schools.
By 1973 the total school roll was over 1 750 making it the largest school in Aberdeen. Since the incorporation of Ruthrieston Secondary School, Harlaw Academy was now a co-educational, comprehensive secondary school and still is to this day. Mr. Chalmers was succeeced in 1985 by Mr. Norman Horne who was followed by Mr. John Murray in 1993. As of 2009, the total school roll stands at just over 950 pupils.
Harlaw Academy is a six year comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
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...
situated some 200 yards from the junction of Union Street and Holburn Street in the centre of the city of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, 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...
. It is directly adjacent to Aberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School, known to students as The Grammar is a state secondary school in the City of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of twelve secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department...
. The Academy draws most of its pupils from its associated primary schools, namely, Broomhill Primary School, Ferryhill Primary School
Ferryhill Primary School
Ferryhill Primary School is a primary school located in the Ferryhill area of Aberdeen, Scotland. The school has about 350 pupils, making it one of the largest primary schools in Aberdeen. It is a feeder school to Harlaw Academy, along with Broomhill Primary School and Kaimhill Primary School.-...
and Kaimhill Primary School, although many children come from other schools. John Murray has been headteacher since 1993, and has served in some capacity before that.
Originally founded as the Aberdeen High School for Girls in 1874, the first school building was raised at Little Belmont Street. The first building at 19 Albyn Place was designed by Archibald Simpson
Archibald Simpson
Archibald Simpson was one of the major architects of Aberdeen, .Simpson's buildings have contributed significantly to the architecture of Aberdeen. His first commission was for St...
, a prominent architect of the late 19th century. Harlaw originally had a primary department but this was phased out and the last primary pupils moved up in 1971. One hundred years after the school was established, Harlaw become co-educational and began admitting boys in 1974.
Examinations are offered at Standard, Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
History
The school began its life in 1874 in the buildings in Little Belmont Street previously known as the Town Schools, later the English School. It was an elementary school in receipt of a Government grant but there was an understanding that its status would be altered if the demand for higher education should warrant it. In practice its secondary work started in 1878 and in March 1881 the School Board, by a resolution in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872, declared the school a Higher-Class School. Its name was changed from The English School to the Aberdeen High School for Girls.In 1891 Mrs. Elmslie's Institution at 19 Albyn Place was bought for the school. This house was built by Archibald Simpson. After alteration to the interior the school moved there in 1893. As the school grew, extensions were made. 18 Albyn Place was acquired in 1920 and after a destructive fire in 1935 major reconstructions were planned. These were completed after the Second World War. This work was undertaken by Mr J. A. O. Allan and Mr D. J .A Ross for the Corporation of Aberdeen; it is to them that we owe the Hall, which matches the dignity and proportion the fine Simpson exterior of the mid-19th century.
The Former Pupils' Club established a fund for the acquisition of a playing field, and by the efforts of the Club and School a considerable sum was raised to help to build and equip the pavilion at the Playing Field at Hazlehead
Hazlehead, Aberdeen
Hazlehead is an area in the west of the Scottish city of Aberdeen.-Usage:Hazlehead comprises a mixture of flats, houses and residential tower blocks.It was originally a council estate although many homes are now privately owned....
.
From 1874 until 1912 Mr. John McBain, M.A., was Headmaster of the School. He was succeeded by Miss L. L. Ward, B.A., who had been Lady Elf of the School since 1894. By 1929, when Miss Ward retired, the size of the school had increased considerably. Her successor, Miss B. M. Rose, M.A., L.L.D., piloted the school through the hazards of the Second World War, the rebuilding programme, and the changes that came with the abolition of fees in 1947. When she retired in 1954 the school had over 1 000 pupils and a steadily increasing number of girls from First to Fourth Year were going on to University, Colleges and other institutions for further education.
Miss Rose was succeeded by Miss M. McNab , M.A., whose years of office saw great changes in organisation, two of which were radical. One was the phasing out of the primary department, which ceased to exist at the end of Session 1970-71, with an accompanying gradual increase in the number of secondary pupils. The other arose from the planning of the city's area comprehensive system which brought about in 1970 the changing of the school's name to Harlaw Academy and the first unselective entry, of girls only, from four neighbouring primary schools. On Miss McNab's retirement in July, 1971, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, B.Sc., became Headmaster and early in the new session plans began to be made for Ruthrieston Secondary School to become part of Harlaw Academy the following Session, ceasing to be a separate entity on the retiral of Mr. Garden on 24 November 1972.
Ruthrieston Secondary School was the oldest of its type in Aberdeen, having become a school solely for post-primary pupils in 1922. It had been established as an all-age village school in the 19th century. Until 1954 only a three-year course was provided; thereafter fourth-year pupils were presented for appropriate examinations and, after 1962, for the S.C.E Ordinary Grade examinations, with opportunity for the S.C.E Higher Grade examinations to be studied at one of the Grammar Schools or Senior Secondary Schools.
By 1973 the total school roll was over 1 750 making it the largest school in Aberdeen. Since the incorporation of Ruthrieston Secondary School, Harlaw Academy was now a co-educational, comprehensive secondary school and still is to this day. Mr. Chalmers was succeeced in 1985 by Mr. Norman Horne who was followed by Mr. John Murray in 1993. As of 2009, the total school roll stands at just over 950 pupils.
Head teachers
Past and present head teachers include :- John McBain 1874-1912
- Lucy Ward 1912-1929
- Beatrice Rose 1929-1955
- Margaretta McNab 1955-1971 (name changed to Harlaw Academy)
- Alexander Chalmers 1971-1985
- Norman Horne 1985-1993
- John Murray 1993–2011
- Michael Buchan 2011- present
Notable former pupils
Notable alumni include:- Annie LennoxAnnie LennoxAnnie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, singer and member of the musical group EurythmicsEurythmicsEurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A... - Lisa Milne, Scottish opera singer
- Nan ShepherdNan ShepherdNan Shepherd was a Scottish novelist and poet.-Life:She attended Aberdeen High School for Girls and graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1915, subsequently lecturing for the Aberdeen College of Education.After she retired in 1956 she edited the Aberdeen University review...
(1893–1981), modernist novelist and poet - Nanette MilneNanette MilneDr. Nanette Milne is a Scottish Conservative Party politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the North East Scotland Region since 2003.- Background :...
(Member of the Scottish ParliamentScottish ParliamentThe Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
) - Elaine ThomsonElaine ThomsonElaine Thomson is a Scottish Labour politician, and was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen North constituency from 1999 to 2003.In the 2003 election she was defeated by Brian Adam of the Scottish National Party...
(Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen NorthAberdeen North (Scottish Parliament constituency)Aberdeen North was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament from 1999–2011. It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
1999-2003) - Dr. Mary Esslemont (BMABritish Medical AssociationThe British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
), whom the Mary Esselemont Group (MEG), an Aberdeen city healthcare group was named after - Ray MichieRay Michie, Baroness Michie of GallanachJanet Ray Michie, Baroness Michie of Gallanach was a British speech therapist and Liberal Democrat politician. She served as Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute for 14 years, from 1987 to 2001, and then became a life peer in the House of Lords...
(1934–2008), Baroness Michie of Gallanach, MP for Argyll and ButeArgyll and ButeArgyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
and Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Scotland - Sonia DresdelSonia DresdelSonia Dresdel was an English actress, whose career ran between the 1940s and 1970s.She was born Lois Obee in Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, England and was educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls....
, film and television actress between the 1940s and 70s. - Elizabeth (Bessie) Craigmyle, poet and translator 1863-1933
- Michael Buchan