Airdrie Academy

Infobox UK school
name = Airdrie Academy

http://www.northlan.gov.uk/education+and+learning/schools/secondary/airdrieacademy.png]
size = 115px
latitude = 55.87531
longitude = -3.982029
dms =
motto = "Vigilantibus
("Be Vigilant")
motto_pl =
established = 1849
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Non Denominational
religion =
president =
head_label = Head Teacher
head = Hugh McCallum
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist =
street = South Commonhead Ave.
city = Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
county = North Lanarkshire
country = Scotlandflagicon|Scotland
postcode = ML6 6NX
LEA =
ofsted =
staff =
enrollment = 1123
gender =
lower_age = 12
upper_age = 18
houses = 4 "Cleddans, Faskine, Monklands, Rochsoles"
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.northlan.gov.uk/education+and+learning/schools/secondary/airdrie+academy.html
website_name = North Lanarkshire Education | Airdrie Academy

Airdrie Academy is a secondary school within Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It has a current roll of approximately 1,100 pupils. As part of Education 2010, a new building was opened in October 2006 to replace the previous one, which had been in use for almost 70 years.

The current head teacher is Mr. Hugh McCallum. He is supported by a Senior Management Team comprising of: Mr. John Johnston, Senior Depute, Mr. George McGuffie, Depute, Mr. Robert Reid, Depute, Mrs. Alice Brown, Depute and Mr. John Kerr, Depute.

History

Founded in 1849, Airdrie Academy exists today in its third incarnation. First located on Cairnhill Road in a building that now houses Alexandra Primary School, the Academy moved to its current site on South Commonhead Avenue in 1941. When it was built in the midst of World War II. The new building cost a little over £100,000 at the time.

From its inception, Airdrie Academy was the senior secondary school in Airdrie: pupils who didn't pass an exam on leaving primary school would go to the now defunct Airdrie High. This system changed in the late 1960s when it became a full six-year comprehensive, nearly tripling the school role to 1800. To cope with the increase the South Commonhead Avenue site's existing 'A-Block' was expanded into a larger campus with specific buildings for Science and Technology and a fourth 'House Block' with six dining halls and three floors of modern classrooms.

Though enhanced and expanded over the years, the building fell into disrepair with students having to be taught in portable buildings during the early 2000s whilst asbestos was removed from the A-Block. After 60-years of service, the building was reaching the end of its serviceable life and North Lanarkshire Council began exploring alternatives.

Vigorous lobbying from the school's pupils, teaching staff and the local MSP stopped the school from merging with Caldervale High in a proposed super-campus with over 2000 pupils. Instead, parents and pupils were invited to select a design for a new Airdrie Academy to be built on the playing fields of its current site. The selected design - similar to most other new schools in the county - was completed in October 2006.

Over the remaining academic year, the old buildings were demolished and the land prepared for new sports fields. During this time one wing of the old A-Block was set on fire by vandals. Demolition moved on and on January 46, 2007 the iconic 'Dome' part of the old building was pulled down [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtvy64v2604|title=Airdrie Academy Assembly Hall Demolition 1|accessdate=2008-08-28|.] [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ9QBxTM6jk|title=Airdrie Academy Assembly Hall Demolition 2|accessdate=2008-08-28|.] .

Notable alumni

*Alan Morton, footballer

External links

* [http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/airdrieacademynorthlanarkshire.asp Airdrie Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]

References