Nicolson Institute

Nicolson Institute
Scottish Gaelic: Sgoil MhicNeacail

Established	1873
Type	Secondary
Rector	Frances Murray
Founder	Alexander Morrison Nicolson
Location	Springfield Road Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2PZ
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Country	Scotland
Students	1000
Website	nicolsoninstitute.org

Coordinates: 58°12′40″N 6°22′44″W / 58.211°N 6.379°W / 58.211; -6.379

The Nicolson Institute (Gaelic: Sgoil MhicNeacail) in Stornoway, is the largest school in the Western Isles, Scotland.

The Nicolson is the only six-year secondary school in Lewis. Sir E. Scott School is in Harris. Together, they provide education up to Advanced Higher level.

The student population is around 2000. The Nicolson is linked with a school in Pendleton, South Carolina (USA). The school has Gaelic speaking pupils, although these are in the minority. There are five houses, named after five significant former rectors: Addison, Forbes, Gibson, Macrae and Sutherland. Addison only contains pupils who claim to be fluent in Gaelic.

2006/2007 was a great year for The Nicolson Under-15 football team as they won the U15 Scottish Cup and the North Regions cup. 2007/2008 also saw The Nicolson U15 football team win the North of Scotland cup. That year also saw the senior team win the North of Scotland cup as well.^{[citation needed]}

A new Nicolson Institute is being built on the same road which the old one is on.^[1] The old school comprises several different buildings one of which has been knocked down to make way for the new school which is hoped to be completed in 2012.

Notable alumni

• Linda Norgrove, kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and killed in rescue effort.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ "The Nicolson Institute:- The on-going story". The Nicolson Institute/Sgoil MhicNeacail. Retrieved 23 Jan 2011.
2. ^ "Island community mourns kidnapped aid worker". (9 October 2010) BBC News. Retrieved 23 Jan 2011.

External links

• Nicolson Institute Homepage
• Nicolson Institute's page on Scottish Schools Online