Organization:Knox Academy

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For similarly-named institutions, see Knox College. For Knox Academy of Arts and Sciences, see Norman Wallace Lermond.
Short description: State secondary school in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
Knox Academy
Address
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Pencaitland Road

Haddington
,
East Lothian
,
EH41 4DT

Scotland
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 55°57′12″N 2°47′14″W / 55.95333°N 2.78722°W / 55.95333; -2.78722
Information
TypeState secondary school
MottoAmbition, Respect, Community[1]
Religious affiliation(s)Non-denominational
Established1379; 647 years ago (1379)
Local authorityEast Lothian Council
Head teacherSusan Cook
GenderMixed
Enrollment796[2] (February 2021)
Houses     Garleton
     Lammerlaw
     Traprain[3]
Websitewww.ka-net.org.uk

Knox Academy is a co-educational state secondary school located in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.[2] Originally founded in 1379 as a medieval grammar school, it is one of the oldest schools in the world.[2][4]

History

The modern school can be traced back to a late medieval grammar school, founded in 1379 in Haddington, East Lothian. It was not until 1879 that it was first dedicated to John Knox, and named the Knox Memorial Institute to mark the construction of a new building designed by John Starforth.[5][6][7] Though it no longer houses the school, this historic structure is now a listed building and remains in private use, located on the same street as the modern Knox Academy.[8]

In 1930, construction began of a replacement campus on the current site, which was further extended in 1960.[6] During this period, the school became known as Knox Academy for the first time. In 2005, a major refurbishment and rebuild of the school was completed.[2]

In June 2012, head teacher Janis Craig retired after fifteen years in the role. During the 2016–17 academic year, Molly Young, a pupil at the school, was injured in an acid attack by a pupil in the same year.[9][10] The incident was widely covered in the national press, and following a second violent incident, Lauren Rodger, head teacher of North Berwick High School, was seconded to the school as acting headteacher.[11][12][13]

The current head teacher is Susan Cook, formerly acting head teacher at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh.[14] In 2018, it was announced that an extension of the school would be required by 2024 in order to meet demand from new housing developments in the area.[15]

Meadowpark

The front entrance of Meadowpark

Meadowpark opened in 2016 and supports learners with special educational needs. While part of Knox Academy, it is currently headed up by Sophie Shorthouse. it primarily operates within dedicated buildings which are located separately to the main campus.[16]

Cadet Force

Knox Academy was the last state school in Scotland to have a Combined Cadet Force, the Knox CCF. The CCF was disbanded in 2010 due to disagreements between the school and the Ministry of Defence over the storage of weapons on school grounds.[17][18]

Notable alumni

The Grammar School

  • Walter Bower (c. 1385–1449), chronicler and clergyman
  • John Major (philosopher) (1467–1550)
  • John Knox (c. 1514–1572) protestant reformer
  • James Carmichael (1542/3–1628) church minister, schoolmaster and author of a Latin grammar and a collection of proverbs in Scots
  • John Witherspoon (1723–1794), signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence
  • Richard Gall (1776–1801), poet
  • Sir Peter Laurie (1778–1861), Lord Mayor of London
  • Thomas Burns (1796–1871), early settler in Otago, New Zealand
  • Janet Mouat (1867 -1951), UK woman doctor, registered in 1900
  • William George Gillies (1898-1973), renowned Scottish landscape and still life painter

Knox Academy

  • Callum Booth, professional footballer
  • Danny Handling, professional footballer
  • Grant McKelvey, professional rugby player and coach
  • Cameron Murray (rugby union), professional rugby player
  • Joel Sked, TV presenter, podcaster and sports journalist

See also

  • List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom

References

  1. ↑ "School Aims & Values", Knox Academy
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "School Info", Knox Academy
  3. ↑ "House Points System", Knox Academy
  4. ↑ Reminiscences of the royal burgh of Haddington and old East Lothian agriculturists, John Martine, (1883), pp.181–191
  5. ↑ "Architect Biography Report", Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Building/Design Report", Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  7. ↑ "Education in East Lothian, Origins", John Gray Centre
  8. ↑ "Knox Institute", British Listed Buildings
  9. ↑ "Schoolgirl locked up over music room acid attack", BBC News
  10. ↑ "Schoolgirl jailed for viola case acid attack on love rival in music room", The Telegraph
  11. ↑ "Investigation into attack on girl at Knox Academy", BBC News
  12. ↑ "Teenage girl seriously injured in violent attack at Knox Academy in Haddington", East Lothian Courier
  13. ↑ "Headteacher of North Berwick High School seconded to Knox Academy, Haddington", East Lothian Courier
  14. ↑ "Preferred candidate for Knox Academy headteacher post named", East Lothian Courier
  15. ↑ "Extension plans for Knox Academy to cope with new homes", East Lothian Courier
  16. ↑ "New school hub for pupils with autism set to open". https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/14547046.new-school-hub-for-pupils-with-autism-set-to-open/. 
  17. ↑ "Scotland's last state school army cadets to hang up their rifles", The Scotsman
  18. ↑ "Verbal shots fired in cadet force closure blame game", East Lothian Courier



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