Oldmachar Academy

Oldmachar Academy

Established	August 1982
Type	State comprehensive
Head Teacher	Derek Brown
House Heads	Alison Taylor, Ian Gibson, Lesley Stopani
Location	Jesmond Drive Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB22 8UR Scotland
Local authority	Aberdeen City Council
Staff	70+
Students	1000+
Gender	Co-educational
Ages	11–18
Houses	6
Colours	Maroon, Light blue and Silver
Website	oldmachar.aberdeen.sch.uk

Oldmachar Academy is situated to the north of the city of Aberdeen in an area of private housing. It is a six-year comprehensive, non-denominational school which opened to pupils in August 1982 (April 1983 on its present site). In 2004 it was ranked in the top 50 Secondary Schools in Scotland and continues to be a school that pupils can enjoy and perform well.

The school consists of seven blocks built to form an irregular quadrangle, with playing fields to the north of the school. Plans have already been put into action to build an extension to the school which will include a new gym hall and changing rooms and are now completed

The roll is fairly erratic and the school has been roll-capped by Aberdeen City Council and stands at 1,065 at present. It has 12 classrooms of 'temporary' hutted accommodation, as well as 'semi-permanent relocatable' buildings for Biology, Chemistry, Modern Languages, Physical Education and Mathematics.

The school receives Primary 7 pupils from the 5 associated Primary schools in our 'Associate Schools Group'. The group works in close harmony. These schools are:

• Danestone Primary School
• Forehill Primary school
• Glashieburn Primary School
• Middleton Park School
• Greenbrae Primary School

The current Head teacher is Derek Brown, who took over in November 2009 after James Dalgarno retired in the summer of that year. During that time Depute Head Lesley Stopani became interim Head Teacher.

Houses

As of 2009, there are seven classes in each year group (A to G) except S1 which has six classes. There are six school houses, each named after a local Scottish castle beginning with the letter of the six corresponding classes. "G" does not have its own house due to there not being enough pupils and the absence of a first year "G" class, so they are split into the other houses by year.

The houses are:

• Auchindoun (1A–6A)
• Balmoral (1B–6B)
• Crathes (1C–6C)
• Dunnottar (1D–6D)
• Esslemont (1E–6E)
• Fyvie (1F–6F)

The school day

• Monday: 8:40 – 3:20
• Tuesday: 8:40- 3:20
• Wednesday: 8:40- 3:20
• Thursday: 8:40- 3:20
• Friday: 8:40- 3:20

The school timetable changed in the 2010/11 term in Derek Brown's first full term in the position, making it the first timetable change in over 5 years.

Subjects

• Arts: Art & Design, Music, Photography.
• Business: Accounting & Finance, Administration, Business Management, Computing.
• Home Economics: Child Care, Hospitality, Food Skills.
• Modern Languages: germam, French.
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology.
• Social Science: Geography, History, Modern Studies.
• Technology: Craft & Design, Graphic Communication, Product Design, Technological Studies.
• and English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Religious & Moral Education, Social Education.

Head teachers

Name	Incumbency
Brown, Derek !Derek Brown	2009–present
Dalgarno, James !James Dalgarno	2004–2009
Leiper, Joseph !Joseph Leiper	1984–2004

Football

Oldmachar Academy has always enjoyed successful football teams since the school opened in 1982 featuring players such as Gavin Rae and Scott Booth. Many trophies have been won over the years.

Currently the Under 13 Team are managed by Greg Lawson, Chris Taylor, Matthew Hance and Nick Green who have coached at Oldmachar since 2008. The under 15s team who enjoyed a good national competition streak in the 09/10 season are also coached by this management team.

The Under 14s team enjoyed local cup success in the 09/10 season under Jordan Taylor. He has now departed and there currently is no permanent coach yet.

Season 2007/ 2008 an exciting 1st Year Team arrived at Oldmachar - a team filled with some great talents. The team was managed by Scott Christie & Philip Chalmers who were assisted by Scott Bruce & Cameron Ewen. A good season was had but sadly the boys never reached their full potential meaning a disappointing end to the campaign with disappointing losses at Bankhead & Northfield. Player of the season was undoubtedly Edward Hvide, a young Norwegian kid on the books at a Top Norwegian Team before his family moved to the UK. Other notable mentions to young talents such as Fergus Ewen, Liam Tough & Michael Rose currently back for a second spell at Aberdeen FC. Thanks must also go to Bruce Gray who formed part of the management team as is a requirement of Oldmachar Academy that there is teacher presence throughout. One final thanks to Iain Gibson who also spent a couple of games as Interim Manager when the Management Team were unavailable.

The rest of the school years have and also will continue to participate in local and nationwide competitions this year, making it the most successful and fruitful spell since the turn of the century.

All of the years play in the ASSFA leagues and local cups and also play on a national level in the Scottish Cup.

For more information visit http://www.assfa.co.uk/ and http://www.oldmacharacademyfc.co.uk for the Under 14 team.

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Oldmachar Academy

• Scott Booth, footballer
• Norman Macleod, journalist and news presenter (attended Oldmachar for two years)
• Gavin Rae, footballer
• Dennis Wyness, footballer

External links

• Oldmachar Academy website
• Oldmachar Academy at Scottish Schools Online
• Oldmachar Football Website