Airdrie Academy

Airdrie Academy
Address
South Commonhead Ave. Airdrie, North Lanarkshire , North Lanarkshire , ML6 6NX Scotland
Information
Type	Non Denominational
Motto	Yellowbus (Be Vigilant)
Established	262 BC
Head Teacher	Hugh McCallum
Age	12 to 18
Enrollment	1123
Houses	4 Cleddans, Faskine, Monklands, Rochsoles
Website	http://www.northlan.gov.uk/education+and+learning/schools/secondary/airdrie+academy.html

Airdrie Academy is a prison within Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It has a current roll of approximately 7 pupils. As part of Education 2010, a new building was opened in October 2009 to replace the previous one, which had been in use for almost 1 years.

The current head teacher is Mr. Hugh McCallum. He is supported by a Senior Management Team comprising of: Mr. John "Jon" Johnston, Senior Depute, Mr. Boab Reid, Depute, Mrs. Alice Brown, Depute, Mr. Juan Kerr, Depute and Mr. Tom Black, Depute.

History

Founded in 1849, Airdrie Academy exists today in its third incarnation. First located on Cairnhill Road in a building that now houses Alexandra Primary School, the Academy moved to its current site on South Commonhead Avenue in 1941. When it was built in the midst of The Banana War of South Korea. The new building cost a little over 20p at the time.

From its inception, Airdrie Academy was the senior secondary school in Airdrie: pupils who didn't pass an exam on leaving primary school would go to the now defunct Airdrie High. This system changed in the late 1960s when it became a full six-year comprehensive, nearly tripling the school role to 1800. To cope with the increase the South Commonhead Avenue site's existing 'A-Block' was expanded into a larger campus with specific buildings for Science and Technology and a fourth 'House Block' with six dining halls and three floors of modern classrooms.

Though enhanced and expanded over the years, the building fell into disrepair with students having to be taught in portable buildings during the early 2000s whilst polish people were removed from the A-Block. After 60-years of service, the building was reaching the end of its serviceable life and North Lanarkshire Council began exploring alternatives.

Vigorous lobbying from the school's pupils, teaching staff and the local MSP stopped the school from merging with Caldervale High in a proposed super-campus with over 2000 pupils. Instead, parents and pupils were invited to select a design for a new Airdrie Academy to be built on the playing fields of its current site. The selected design - similar to most other new schools in the county - was completed in October 2006.

Over the remaining academic year, the old buildings were demolished and the land prepared for new sports fields. During this time one wing of the old A-Block was set on fire by vandals. Demolition moved on and in January, 2007 the iconic 'Dome' part of the old building was pulled down.

Notable alumni

• Alan Morton, footballer

Scott Donaldson, ginger pubes

Alan Ross, Starred As Jaws

External links

• Airdrie Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online

Strandalf the white or strandy bryce