Portlethen Academy

Infobox scottish primary, secondary and nursery school
name= Portlethen Academy


image size= 100px
caption= Portlethen Academy Logo 2006-present
headteacher=
headmistress=
rector= Albert Swinborn
principal=
type= State Secondary School
educational authority= Aberdeenshire Council
location= Bruntland Road, Portlethen, Aberdeenshire AB12 4QL
coordinates=
founded= 1987
motto= Do Your Best
mascot=
school colours= Red, Black, Blue
main feeder schools= Portlethen Primary School, Fishermoss Primary School, Newtonhill Primary School, Banchory-Devenick Primary School
main feeder school for=
age range= 11-18
years taught= 6
primary years taught=
secondary years taught= S1-S6
nursery years taught=
number of pupils=
number of staff=
website= [http://www.portlethenacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk]

Portlethen Academy is a secondary school in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire. Portlethen Academy opened on April 20th 1987, and is now fully established as a six year comprehensive school. The opening provided a new school for the communities of Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls and Banchory-Devenick. Before this, pupils from these areas were bused to Mackie Academy, in near-by Stonehaven. The original building of the school was built for a capacity of around 650, but the school role grew over 800 pupils, so Aberdeenshire Council commissioned a new school in the form of the PPI2 Scheme. Originally owned by Grampian Regional Council and Kincardine and Deeside District Council, the school was overtaken by Aberdeenshire Council, when it formed in 1996. The current headmaster of the school is Albert Swinborn.

Old building

With the expansion of the communities of Portlethen and Newtonhill in the 1980s, the Education Committee of Grampian Regional Council decided to build a new six year Academy in Portlethen. The Academy has expanded in numbers each session since April 1987, when it opened with 180 pupils in Years 1 and 2. As the roll began to rise, the school became too small to accommodate all the pupils and staff, so portable cabin classrooms were added. Seven temporary classrooms were added to the school prior to closure.

Proposal for and construction of a new building

As early as the turn of the millennium, plans existed for a new school, to be built as part of the Government's PPI2 scheme. It was to be built and managed by Robertson FM, and to be built on the playing fields adjacent to the existing academy. Construction started in June 2004, and was completed by the end of July 2006. There was a major setback in the opening of the school, as it was originally set to open in June 2006, for the start of the new timetable. Unfortunately, due to a burst pipe, the school's opening was delayed until August. [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/release.asp?newsID=177]

Relocation

The new building opened on 22nd August 2006, after the summer holidays. The school opened with a role of 867. [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/statistics/area/portlethen_profile2007.pdf] The existing school has been knocked down, and, The main car park which forms part of the area along with the all-weather pitch made up stage 2 of the relocation programme. The school has state of the art facilities, and is one of the most technologically advanced and biggest state schools in Scotland. The school role is continuing to rise, and there are already reports that the new building will not be able to handle the expected influx of new students.

Community School

Portlethen Academy is aiming to become more involved in the local community after moving into the new building. Many local groups also meet at the school, including the local Portlethen Panthers basketball team. The community library has opened to the public and the new Community Centre is also within the building. It is currently unknown what will happen with the land where the old community centre stood, although their have been rumours that the new Portlethen Primary School will be built on it. All ALIS members have access to the new library which offers a wide range of book and non-book resources. The library is managed by a full-time professional librarian, Carol Love, who also manages the Newtonhill branch library, with the support of a team of 5 library assistants.

Notable Staff and Alumni

*Lesley McKay (Drama Teacher), Previously In-Vision Continuity Announcer on Grampian TV (Under the name Kay Duncan).

See also

Portlethen

Aberdeenshire Council

Portlethen Primary School

Fishermoss Primary School

External links

Portlethen Academy- [http://www.portlethenacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/2/001.htm]

Aberdeenshire Council- [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk]
* [http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/portlethenacademyaberdeenshire.asp Portlethen Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]