Organization:Aberdeen Grammar School

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Short description: Secondary school in Aberdeen, Scotland
Aberdeen Grammar School
"The Grammar" (geograph 3387889).jpg
Address
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Skene Street

Aberdeen
,
AB10 1HT

Scotland
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 57°08′49″N 2°06′54″W / 57.1468581°N 2.115042°W / 57.1468581; -2.115042
Information
TypeSecondary school
MottoBon Record
Establishedc. 1256; 768 years ago (1256)
Local authorityAberdeen City Council
RectorAlison Murison, Ma(Hons) (2015–present)
Staff77 (2018)[1]
GenderCoeducational (all boys previously)
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1,120 (2018)[1]
Houses     Byron
     Keith and Dun
     Melvin
Colour(s)Blue, Red, White
              
AlumniAberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils Club
WebsiteAberdeen Grammar School

Aberdeen Grammar School is a state secondary school in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of thirteen secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department.[2]

It is the oldest school in the city and one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom, with a history spanning more than 750 years.[3] Founded around 1256, the year used in official school records, it began operating as a boys' school. On Skene Street, near the centre of the city, it was originally situated on Schoolhill, near the current site of Robert Gordon's College.[4] It moved to its current site in 1863, and became co-educational in 1973.[3]

In 1970 the school's name was changed by the City of Aberdeen Education Committee to a more accurate, less ceremonial "Rubislaw Academy" but in 1977 the name was reverted to "Aberdeen Grammar School" by the Grampian Regional Council, who at that point were responsible for education in Aberdeen.[5]

Although the school is named Aberdeen Grammar School, the school is not a Grammar School, The state school does not choose its own students and instead has a catchment zone like other schools in Aberdeen, Scotland.

In an annual survey run by the British broadsheet newspaper The Times, Aberdeen Grammar was rated the 15th best Scottish state secondary school in 2019, and second in Aberdeen behind Cults Academy.[6]

The most notable former student is Lord Byron, the Romantic poet and writer who spent a short amount of time at the school before his move back to England as a 10 year old. A statue of him was erected in the front courtyard of the school. Alumni include Scottish international footballer Russell Anderson and mathematician Hector Munro Macdonald.[7]

History

Early history

The school coat of arms
A certificate awarded to a pupil in 1915 for success in Maths, English, Greek, Latin, and French.

The exact date of the school's founding is unknown; however, research done to mark the school's 750th anniversary led to the belief it was formed in c. 1256, which is the date that is now used for official school purposes.[8] The earliest documented date of its existence is in the Burgh Records of 1418, when the Lord Provost and Council nominated John Homyll to replace the recently deceased Andrew of Chivas as "Master of the Schools".[3] Originally on Schoolhill, near the site of the current Robert Gordon's College, the curriculum consisted of Latin, Greek and ancient geography.[3][4]

In 1580, new pupils were reprimanded, under the penalty of £10, if they did not show good behaviour or did not listen to their Magistrates or masters.[9] In 1612, the pupils, many of whom were related to the gentry in the country, rioted with pistols and hagbuts, and took over part of the school. The masters stopped the riot, and 21 pupils were expelled, while some were arrested.[9]

Recent history

In 1986, the original building was devastated by a fire, destroying most of the rooms including the large library, a collection of Byron's notebooks, the trophy room and other classrooms, although the historic facade was mostly undamaged.[10]

The modular building that was painted pink as part of a prank on "muck-up day" in 2002

The school and FPs club own the 18-acre (73,000 m2) Rubislaw Playing Fields at a site about a mile away from the main school building.[4][11] Shared with the former pupils' club, the location has rugby union pitches with a stand, football pitches, grass hockey pitches and an artificial hockey pitch built in 2005.[4][12]

In recent years the school has been the site of a number of newsworthy events, including a protest against PETA, the painting pink of an entire temporary classroom block, and a bomb threat.[13][14]

The school marked its 750th anniversary year in 2007 with a series of fund-raising events, the proceeds of which went towards buying a new school minibus.[15] Also in 2007, work was completed on a new gymnasium, begun two years previously.[16]

In February 2019, the school was shut for a suspected gas leak.[17][18]

Present day

Today the school is run by Aberdeen City Council in accordance with the Scottish Executive's educational guidelines for state schools. In the 2013/14 academic year, the education of each pupil at the Grammar School specifically cost £4,252.[19]

In the session 2018–2019, 61% of leavers received a qualification equivalent of five Highers or more. Furthermore, 83% gained 5 or more National 5s and 27% gained 2 or more Advanced Highers.[20]

Pupils and catchment area

About 1100 pupils attend the school each year, between the ages of about 11 to 18. The school's catchment area centres on the west end of the city, including Rosemount and Mannofield. There are four main primary schools that feed into the school, located throughout the centre and west-end of Aberdeen: Ashley Road Primary School, Gilcomstoun Primary School, Mile-End School and Skene Square Primary School.[21][4] Under the Parent's Charter, children from other areas can attend the school after successful application by parents. Places using this method are limited for each year.[21]

(As of 2023), of the schools in Scotland with the ten highest academic achievements, the school has the most inexpensive houses within its catchment zone.[22]

Colour System & Achievements

Three colour awards are made. The first, 'Bronze Colours', issued in the third year of the school, are represented by a red ribbon on the breast pocket of the school blazer. This level requires two years of participation in an extra-curricular activity.[23]

The second, 'Silver Colours' are awarded in fifth or sixth year and represented by a light blue tie (replacing the navy, red and white tie). Pupils must be participating in the activity throughout fourth and fifth year for this award.[23]

The third, 'Gold Colours' is the final level of the colours system. Pupils must demonstrate a very high level of attainment, performance and achievement to be eligible for this award. It is represented by red braiding outlining the rims of the school blazer.[23]

'International Colours' are awarded to pupils who have represented their country at international level. It is marked by silver braiding around the blazer.[23]

'Citizenship Colours' are awarded for an outstanding contribution to the school community and are represented by a silver tie.[23]

Rectors

The rector is the head of the school. Records show there were 26 rectors between 1418 and 1881.[24]

Name Incumbency
Dr James Cromar[25] 1803-1825
Andrew D M DM Andrew

[26]

1924–1942
Simpson, Henry Fife Morland Henry Fife Morland Simpson


1893–1920[27]
Barrack, William Rev Dr William Barrack

[28]

1860 to 1868

Notable alumni and teachers

  • Russell Anderson, Scotland international footballer, captain of Aberdeen F.C.[29]
  • James Beattie, professor of moral philosophy and logic at the University of Aberdeen.[30]
  • George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.[31]
  • Lord Byron, poet, famous poems include Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan. His statue stands in front of the school.[32]
  • Zoey Clark, British athlete.[33]
  • Robin Cook, former cabinet member and Secretary of State.[34]
  • Martin Dalby, composer[35]
  • Sir David Ferrier, FRS, neurologist and psychologist.[36][37]
  • James Gibbs 18th century architect.[38]
  • Paul Gough, Vice-Chancellor, Arts University Bournemouth, and Chair of UKADIA[39]
  • Iain Gray, Chief Executive, Technology Strategy Board and former MD Airbus UK[40]
  • Neil Kemsley, sportsman (cricket and badminton)
  • Robert Daniel Lawrence, Early recipient of insulin injections, he devoted his professional life to the care of diabetic patients and is remembered as the founder of the British Diabetic Association, now Diabetes UK.
  • William Lumsden, cricketer and British Army officer
  • Hector Munro Macdonald, Scottish mathematician and Fellow of the Royal Society in 1901, of Edinburgh in 1905 and was awarded the Royal Society Royal Medal in 1916.[7]
  • David Masson, Scottish writer.[41]
  • Dr James Melvin (1795–1853), Latin scholar and Rector (1826–53)[42]
  • John Macleod (physiologist), recipient of the 1923 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.[43]
  • John McLeod (composer)[44]
  • John Bryce McLeod Scottish mathematician and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1974, Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1992, awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh Keith medal and prize in 1987, London Mathematical Society Naylor Prize and Lectureship in 2011.[45]
  • Michael Sheard (1938-2005) Scottish character actor known for playing villains (including Mr Bronson in Grange Hill and Admiral Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back).[46]
  • Steve Robertson of "Scotland the What?"[47]
  • John Smith (architect)[48]
  • William Smith (architect)[49]
  • Annie Wallace, Actress.[50]
  • David Wedderburn (teacher), wrote Vocabula in 1636.[51][52][53]
  • John David Maitland Wright (1942-2023), research professor of mathematics at the University of Aberdeen, professor of mathematics at the University of Reading and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1978.[54]


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Aberdeen Grammar School". Parentzone Scotland. https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/find-a-school/aberdeen-city/5244439. 
  2. ↑ "List of Aberdeen City schools". Aberdeen City Council. https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/find-school. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "School History". Aberdeen Grammar School. 2006. http://www.take2theweb.com/pub/sso/aberdeengs/c.html?1156755753. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Aberdeen. Placemark key on left (Map). Google Maps. 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar School : History Aberdeen Grammar School". http://www.take2theweb.com/pub/sso/aberdeengs/c.html?1324302504#:~:text=As%20a%20result%20of%20a,start%20of%20session%201970/71.. 
  6. ↑ "Top 100 Scottish Secondary Schools". 24 November 2019. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/top-100-scottish-secondary-schools-20950576.amp. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Hector Munro Macdonald". School of Mathematics, St Andrews. http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Macdonald.html. 
  8. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar School | Provenance | Provenance | The University of Aberdeen". University of Aberdeen. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/provenance/owners/1550/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Turreff, Gavin (1859). Antiquarian Gleanings from Aberdeenshire Records. King. p. 65. ISBN 1-4326-3337-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=dXNSkrPn_dQC&q=%22Aberdeen+Grammar+School%22&pg=PA140. Retrieved 8 November 2020. 
  10. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar School Aberdeen". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. 2000. http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/inspection/aberdeen_grammar06.html. 
  11. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils". Former Pupils' Club. http://www.agsfp.com/. 
  12. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar Rugby". Aberdeen Grammar Rugby. http://www.aberdeenrugby.co.uk/. 
  13. ↑ "Milk protest turns sour". Edinburgh: The Scotsman. 12 October 2002. http://news.scotsman.com/education.cfm?id=1129532002. 
  14. ↑ "Charges over "threatening call"". BBC News. 13 November 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7092189.stm. 
  15. ↑ "s1 event overview". 2007. http://www.s1play.com/on-stage/detail/106449-1073.html?location=1631-Aberdeen&time=2007-3-1%2C2007-3-31-in%20march&venue=.  [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  16. ↑ "Aberdeen Grammar School News". Aberdeen Grammar School. http://www.take2theweb.com/pub/sso/aberdeengs/d.html?1129189242. 
  17. ↑ Beattie, Kieran. "Pupils sent home after suspected gas leak in Aberdeen" (in en-US). https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1686616/pupils-sent-home-after-suspected-gas-leak-in-aberdeen/. 
  18. ↑ Morrice, Emma. "Aberdeen academy to reopen after suspected gas leak" (in en-US). https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/aberdeen-academy-to-reopen-after-suspected-gas-leak/. 
  19. ↑ "North East Secondary School Spending". Evening Express. 2015. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/local/revealed-how-much-is-spent-on-your-child-in-secondary-school/. 
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Scottish Secondary Schools". 24 November 2019. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/top-100-scottish-secondary-schools-20950576.amp. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "School Prospectus 2018". Aberdeen Grammar School. 2018. https://grammar.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/AGS-Prospectus-2018.pdf. 
  22. ↑ Davies, Matilda (2023-09-08). "Houses near top Scottish secondary schools carry £100,000 premium". https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/houses-near-top-scottish-secondary-schools-carry-100-000-premium-z3q7lvkt9. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 "Aberdeen Grammar School Colours Criteria". Aberdeen Grammar School. http://grammar.org.uk/pupil-achievements/colours/. 
  24. ↑ "Schoolhill". The Doric Columns. http://mcjazz.f2s.com/Schoolhill.htm. 
  25. ↑ Henderson, John Alexander (1912). History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. Aberdeen University Studies. No. 60. United Kingdom: Printed for the University [by Milne and Hutchison]. pp. 138. https://books.google.com/books?id=NJkxAQAAIAAJ. Retrieved 18 March 2023. 
  26. ↑ "Aberdeen Teaching Appointment". The Glasgow Herald: p. 2. 25 October 1941. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19411025&id=CD9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5765,1495579. 
  27. ↑ "Formation of the Club". Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils Club. http://www.agsfp.com/club-history-chapter-1-agsfp.html. 
  28. ↑ Thomas Alexander Lee (2006). Seekers of Truth: The Scottish Founders of Modern Public Accountancy. Kidlington, Oxford: Elsevier. ISBN 9780762312986. https://books.google.com/books?id=WV-TM0HNgeoC&q=aberdeen+grammar+rector&pg=PA253. Retrieved 8 November 2020. 
  29. ↑ "Russell Anderson Player Profile". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen F.C.. http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/russell-anderson-aberdeen_2212045_6786. 
  30. ↑ "Life of great Aberdonian celebrated". University of Aberdeen. 1 February 2012. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/details-11491.php. 
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/boyne. 
  32. ↑ "The Life of George Noel Gordon, Lord Byron". English History. http://englishhistory.net/byron/life.html. 
  33. ↑ "Zoey Clark". The Press and Journal. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1274101/aberdeen-university-student-to-take-part-in-british-athletics-championships-a-week-after-graduating/. 
  34. ↑ "Obituary: Robin Cook". BBC News. 6 August 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4127676.stm. 
  35. ↑ "Martin Dalby". Chester Music. http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=317. 
  36. ↑ "Fellow details". London: The Royal Society. https://collections.royalsociety.org/DServe.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Persons&dsqSearch=Code==%27NA7494%27&dsqCmd=Show.tcl. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  37. ↑ Sandrone, S.; Zanin, E. (2014). "David Ferrier (1843–1928)". J Neurol 261 (6): 1247–8. doi:10.1007/s00415-013-7023-y. PMID 23846770. https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/171968/1/ZORA_NL_171968.pdf. Retrieved 13 December 2019. 
  38. ↑ Terry Friedman (1984). James Gibbs. Yale University Press. p. 4. ISBN 0-300-03172-6. 
  39. ↑ "Welcome to VORTEX, War Art & Artists". http://www.vortex.uwe.ac.uk. 
  40. ↑ "Mr Iain Gray". University of Bristol. http://www.bris.ac.uk/cms/go/hon-degree/july%2006%20hon%20grad/jul-gray.html. 
  41. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Masson, David". Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 870. 
  42. ↑ "Melvin Collection". University of Aberdeen, Library, Special Collections and Museums. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/about/special/collections/cld/30/. 
  43. ↑ "John James Rickard MacLeod (1876 – 1935)". Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. http://www.med-chi.co.uk/heritage/people/john-james-rickard-macleod-1876-1935.html. 
  44. ↑ "Aberdeen Bach Choir". http://www.aberdeenbachchoir.org.uk/JohnMcLeod.shtml. 
  45. ↑ "John Bryce McLeod". School of Mathematics, St Andrews. http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/McLeod.html. 
  46. ↑ "Michael Sheard". Press & Journal. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/4243778/michael-sheard-aberdeen-star-wars-death/. 
  47. ↑ "Scotland the What?". About Aberdeen. http://www.aboutaberdeen.com/scotlandthewhat.php. 
  48. ↑ Fraser, W. Hamish; Lee, Clive Howard (2000). Aberdeen, 1800–2000: A New History. Dundurn. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-86232-108-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=6az73FqFVMMC&pg=PA36. 
  49. ↑ "William Smith II - Basic Biographical Details". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201859. 
  50. ↑ "Actress and Former Pupil Annie Wallace to Visit School". https://grammar.org.uk/2018/05/14/actress-and-former-pupil-annie-wallace-to-visit-school/. 
  51. ↑ "Wedderburn, David" , Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  52. ↑ "Origin and meaning of the word "golf"". Scottish Golf History. http://www.scottishgolfhistory.net/golf_word.htm. 
  53. ↑ Turreff, Gavin (1859). Antiquarian Gleanings from Aberdeenshire Records. King. p. 296. ISBN 1-4326-3337-6. https://archive.org/details/antiquarianglea00turrgoog. 
  54. ↑ "Obituary Professor John David Maitland Wright FRSE". University of Aberdeen. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/news/22243/. 

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