Baldragon Academy

Baldragon Academy is a six-year comprehensive in the Downfield area of Dundee, Scotland. It was originally named Kirkton High School until merging with Rockwell High School in August 1997. The School is set in over 20 acres of its own grounds with exceptional views to the North.

The school has around 650 pupils and serves the Ardler, St Mary's, Downfield, Kirkton and Trottick areas of Dundee. This area consists of a mixture of authority and privately owned housing. The feeder primary schools are:-
* Ardler Primary School
* Brackens Primary School
* Downfield Primary School
* MacAlpine Primary School
* Sidlaw View Primary School
* Strathmartine Primary School

Naming

Dundee City Council Education committee asked the joint School Board to choose a new name for the school. Two names were chosen Baldragon and Craigowl. Craigowl being a nearby hill (which was subsequently chosen as one of the House names) and Baldragon being the name for the area in The Legend of the Nine Maidens Well. The pupils were asked to vote for their preference and the overwhelming choice was Baldragon Academy.

Houses

Baldragon Academy has three Houses: namely Balgay, Craigowl and Law. All named after prominent hills in the local area. The Houses are represented by a colour and an animal. Green and a bear for Balgay, purple and an owl for Craigowl and blue and a dolphin for Law. These colours are also used on the Junior School Tie along with a white stripe. This white stripe and the space on the House Points board has fuelled rumours that there is a fourth House. Though there is no evidence that backs this up.

School Aims and Values

At Baldragon Academy we are committed to fostering

Achievement"' Respect Recognition Partnership

AchievementWe are committed to fostering achievement in all our pupils. A significant area of achievement will be attainment through national qualifications for all our pupils. We will also foster achievement in its broader sense of encouraging success in all areas of life both individually and collectively. We are committed to lifelong learning.

RespectWe are committed to fostering respect between all members of the Baldragon community. Respect involves treating others in ways that we would like them to treat ourselves. On a practical level that can mean valuing other people, listening to their opinions, treating them fairly and being understanding of other faiths and beliefs.

RecognitionWe are committed to giving recognition to the contributions of all members of the Baldragon community. That can mean celebrating out successes individually and collectively. It can also mean acknowledging the good work of others wherever we find it.

PartnershipWe are committed to working with others to improve the life and well being of all in the Baldragon community. We want to share our aims and values with parents and with all the organisations and groups who impact on the life and work of the Baldragon community.

BBC Radio Scotland "SoundTown"

Baldragon Academy was chosen to be the BBC Radio Scotland "SoundTown [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/soundtown/] " school for session 2007-2008. The school was provided with a fully operational radio studio and has been involved in numerous broadcasts and projects throughout the year long project. Over 400 pupils have taken part in the project so far and it is hoped that all staff and pupils will have played a part in this project by the end of the session.

Current Teachers

Rector : MR Cavanagh

English: Mrs Connolly,Mrs Soutar,Mr McGinty,Mrs Cannon,Mrs RobinsonMr Wagner,Mr Forrest (PT)

Mathematics :

Mr Bygroves,Mr Gibb,Mr Polanski,Mrs Durward (PT),Mr Lowson,Mrs Wood

Home Economics:Mrs Dow (PT),Mrs Kyles,Mrs Capper,Mrs Henderson,

Music:Mrs Watson,Mrs Anderson (PT),Mrs Bennett,Mrs Honeyman,

FrenchMrs Morgan,Mrs Rhynd (PT),

Physical EducationMr Kenny (PT),Mr Gay,Mr Mitchell,Mrs Penny,

TechnologicalMr Stewart,Mrs Gibson,Mr McDonough (PT),

PhysicsMrs Burnett,Mrs Ward,

BiologyMr Moncur (PT),Mrs McDonald,Mrs Nolan,

ChemistryDr Penny,Mr Wharton (PT),

Business StudiesMrs Caldwell (PT),Mrs Muir,Mr Robinson,Mr Norman,

Modern StudiesMr Baikie,Mr Laird,Mr Gibbons(PT)

GeographyMr McCartney,Mrs Innes (PT),Mr McGarry,

HistoryMr Baikie,Mr Petrie,

Computing StudiesMr Norman (PT),Mrs Fortune,Mr Milne,

Art & DesignMrs Morocco (PT),Mrs Chisolm,Mr Rae,

Religious StudiesMrs Thorburn (PT), Mr Stewart,

External links

* [http://baldragon.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/ Baldragon Academy Website]
* [http://www.scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk/schools/baldragonacademydundeecity.asp Baldragon Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]