Lawside Academy

Lawside RC Academy was a state secondary school in Dundee, Scotland. It was a denominational school within the Catholic religious tradition, although it welcomed students from all religious backgrounds. The school closed for the last time in June 2008, One hundred and one years and one day after it first opened in 1907.

History

Lawside was originally founded as an independent school for girls by the Sisters of Mercy in 1907, but soon began to admit boys. The school was operated on the same site as the convent, which was located on the lower slopes of the Dundee Law (the word means hill); hence the name of both convent and school. With the Education (Scotland) Act of 1918, the school chose to enter the state system as the Act laid out certain guarantees for denominational schools which came under state control. Amongst the prerogatives that Lawside had were that the rector or vice-rector would come from the Sisters of Mercy should one be suitably qualified. A member of the Sisters held the position of vice-rector into the 1970s. Whilst non-denominational schools tended to provide only a weekly period of religious education, Catholic schools were permitted a period each day, something which Lawside maintained until recent years when this was reduced to 2 periods per week. A bonus particularly enjoyed by students until the late 1970s was that school began an hour later on days which were major religious feasts; this was to allow students to attend morning Mass in their respective parish churches.

As the school enrolment grew, the need arose for physical expansion of the facilities. However, the convent grounds were unsuitable, and so the "Annex", a former primary school, was opened on Blackness Road. One bonus of being in the Annex was that it was much closer to the centre of town than the main school, and so afforded greater opportunity for lunch time wanderings.

Both wings of the school moved to a new campus just off MacAlpine Road in 1966. As was traditional the shool was split into houses: St. Peters, St. Paul's and St. Andrews, each with a housemaster and housemistress.

Until the introduction of comprehensive education in the 1970s, Lawside served as the only Catholic academy for many miles, with students travelling from places such as Perth, Forfar, Arbroath and northern Fife. Although Catholic in character, Lawside both attracts and welcomes students from other denominations. At any one time, it is estimated that 20% of the student body is not Cathol

chool Badge

The school badge is of an unusual design, resembling a three leafed clover, which represents the Holy Trinity. It consists of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by a papal tiara. The letters "L.A." for Lawside Academy are found in the two lower circles, whilst the school motto "Laborare et Orare" ("to work and to pray") from the Order of St Benedict curves around the edge.

Recent Events

In 2002 Dundee City Council decided to plan the merger of Lawside with St Saviour's RC High School which is located on the eastern side of the city, and to call the new school St Paul's Academy. Paul is the middle name of the Right Reverend Vincent Paul Logan, the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld in which Dundee is located. The merger will happen with the new academic year in 2008, one year after Lawside's centenary celebrations in 2007. [http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/reports/reports/726-2003.pdf]

Notes

1. [http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/reports/reports/726-2003.pdf Decision of Dundee Council]

External links

* [http://www.lawsideacademy.co.uk/ Lawside Academy website]
* [http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/lawsidercacademydundeecity.asp Lawside Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]