Mackie Academy

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


image size= 200px
caption=Mackie Academy in 2004
headteacher=
headmistress=
rector= Andrew Griffiths
principal=
type= State Secondary School
educational authority= Aberdeenshire Council
location= Slug Road, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB12 4QL
coordinates=
founded= 1893
motto= Tendit in Ardua Virtus (To direct upon lofty valor)
mascot= Bear, as seen on the Mackie Academy crest
school colours= Red, Blue, Yellow
main feeder schools= Arduthie Primary School, Dunnottar Primary School, Mill O'Forest Primary School, Bervie Primary School,Glenbervie,Netherley,Kinneff,Gourdon,Catterline
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= c1400
number of staff=
website= [http://www.mackie.aberdeenshire.sch.uk]
footnotes=

Mackie Academy is a secondary school located in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.

Historical Background

As of 2007, Mackie Academy currently has roughly 1200 pupils and 80 staff.

The school served a huge geographical area surrounding Stonehaven until the opening of Portlethen Academy, which reduced the catchment area of the school drastically. Andrew Griffiths was appointed Rector of the school in June 2008. The vacant role was filled by Senior Depute Rector Mrs Jennifer Macdonald. The previous Rector, Mr Peter Campbell having announced his resignation at Easter in 2008.

Other members of the current Senior Management Team include: Mrs Fiona Peters, Mrs Lizbeth Paul, and Mr Neil Johnstone.

The school was founded in 1893 thanks to the generosity of a local merchant, William Mackie, who bequeathed money in his will to establish a school in Stonehaven. The original site was on Arduthie Road; this is where Arduthie Primary school is now situated. The building on this site is not the original Mackie Academy, which was destroyed in a fire in the 1920's and had to be rebuilt. In 1969, the school was moved to the new purpose-designed building on the Slug Road. This land had previously been used as the Academy playing fields and the grounds around the present building are still being used for this purpose. There have also been many extensions to the buildings, in the form of relocatable units, in recent years to cope with the large increase in the school's roll.

Educational Importance

A base for pupils with special educational needs was opened in January 2000. Individual pupils have some of their lessons in the Base with two SEN Teachers. The amount of time spent in the Base varies according to individual needs.

Attainment in national SQA examinations is extremely positive with Mackie Academy students achieving well above the average grades for Aberdeenshire and for Scotland. Results show a year on year improvement at Advanced Higher grades and Higher grades. The majority of pupils who return to S5/S6 go on to Tertiary Education.

Mackie Academy is recorded as one of the top 50 State Secondary schools in Scotland.

Pupil Activities

The school's pupils are divided into six different houses, which are derived from the surrounding geography of Stonehaven and historical local figures. These houses are Fetteresso, Dunnottar, Ury, Cowie, Swanley and Rickarton. Each house is designated by a colour for ease of reference; blue for Fetteresso, red for Dunnottar, orange for Rickarton, yellow for Ury, green for Cowie and purple for Swanley. There are Inter House competitions between these houses where the pupils themselves compete.Each house is headed by a Principal Teacher of Guidance. The current Guidance Teachers are: Mr Ewen Ritchie, Mrs Lesley Cruickshank, Miss Janice Stalker, Mrs Fiona Beeley, Mr Douglas Watt and Miss Katie Arthur.The school is often monitored by Prefects who carry out tasks such as controlling canteen queues and monitoring computer usage in the library, and are led by their House Captains and helped by their Peer Support Captains. Peer Support Captains play a role in the school within various sectors of the school life, such as helping younger pupils with problems (for example bullying) or if they require help with schoolwork. Peer Support, House and Sport Captains are always sixth years, chosen through applications and further interviews by the senior management staff. The oldest pupils also take on peer roles, Paired Reading with junior pupils, helping in specific classes, running extra-curricular activities.

External links

* [http://www.mackie.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/ Homepage]
* [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/our_schools/detail.asp?schoolid=kmaa Council webpage]
* [http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/mackieacademyaberdeenshire.asp Mackie Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]