McLaren High School
Encyclopedia
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...
, non-denominational secondary school in central Scotland
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
. It was founded in 1892 by Donald McLaren and is situated in the town of Callander
Callander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
. The school has a catchment area of about 400 square miles (1,036 km²) and contains approximately 700 pupils. Its national exam averages are slightly above the Scottish averages and the school supports Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
, Intermediate Grade, Higher and Advanced Higher courses. The current school building has been in place since 1965 and work on an upgrade started in summer 2006. The school's unofficial motto is Order, Respect, Care and Achievement or ORCA and the school's mascot is also an Orca. The school's current head teacher is Mr P Martin and his deputes are Mr N Cotter, Ms. E. Woods and Mr J Anderson. Mr. A. McAllister retired in June 2009. Pupils enter McLaren at 11-13 years old and can stay for up to 6 years but have the option to leave at 16, after 4 or 5 years (If pupils are not 16 by the end of 4th year they may leave at Christmas).
History
McLaren High School's benefactor and founder was Donald McLaren, a banker, originally from the StrathearnStrathearn
Strathearn or Strath Earn is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn in Perth and Kinross to the River Tay....
area, the traditional lands of the Clan McLaren. Donald McLaren was born in 1831 and during his lifetime funded and supported the programme that eventually founded McLaren High School in 1892; he died in 1894.
The original McLaren High School building on Bridgend Road, Robertson House, (now used as Callander primary school) was gifted to the school in 1912, but became too small in 1965 and the school was relocated to a new building 500 meters away on Mollands Road. In 1986 the school was once again deemed to small so a library extension and 5 prefabricated huts (four with 2 classrooms each and one with 3) were added to current building. In 1997 an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack on the school left the swimming pool in ruins. Thankfully by this time work had already started on the McLaren Leisure Centre (complete with swimming pool) which opened on the campus in 1998. In 2002 the school was again deemed too small and 2 more prefabricated huts (one of 6 classrooms and the other of 4) were added to the campus as well as plans for a major extension to the main building being put in place. Work on the extension was scheduled to start in summer 2005 but was delayed due to problems with other schools in the projects. Work on the extension started in summer 2006 and many of the old parts of the school went under a major refurbishment. As of 2009, the refurbishment is complete and the builders have left the site. The refurbished building was officially opened on 24 April 2009 by Provost Fergus Wood.
The Badge of McLaren High School, including the motto “Ab Origine Fides” (Faith from the Beginning) is derived from the coat of arms of the Clan Labhran.
Staff
McLaren High School currently employs: teaching staff (including rectors), pupil/teacher support staff and kitchen staff.Subjects
The subjects McLaren offers are:- Administration - Standard Grade, Higher
- Art and Design - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Biology -Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Chemistry - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Computing - Int. Grades, Higher
- Craft and Design - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher
- English - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- French - Standard Grade, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Geography -Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Graphical Communication - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher
- History - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- History of Art - Higher, Adv. Higher
- Human Biology - Higher, Adv. Higher
- Maths - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Modern Studies - Standard Grade, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Music - Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Physics - Standard Grade, Int. Grades, Higher, Adv. Higher
- Psychology - Higher
- Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies - Int. Grades, Higher
- Spanish - Standard Grade, Higher, Adv. Higher
The school also supports several half-year-courses such as PC Passport and several distance learning courses such as Latin; in general these courses are only offered in 5th and 6th year and only take up 3 periods a week (most subjects take up 6).
Sports & Extra Curricular
There are many extra curricular sports on offer at Mclaren including Football, Hockey and Rugby. Debating and School Orchestra are also available to pupils.- McLaren F.P. - The school is supoported by the local rugby club and Active Stirling.
See also
- Wallace High SchoolWallace High School, StirlingWallace High School in Causewayhead, Stirling, Scotland.It was founded in 1971 to serve northern and north-eastern Stirling. The University of Stirling is in close proximity, and the school has formed strong links with the institution. Wallace High School is one of seven secondary schools in the...
- Standard GradeStandard GradeStandard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
- Higher (Scottish)Higher (Scottish)In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
- Advanced Highers