Edinburgh Academy

The Edinburgh Academy
Motto Aien Aristeuein
("Always Excel"), Floreat Academia
Established 1824
Type Independent school
Rector Marco Longmore
Location 42 Henderson Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5BL
Scotland
Local authority Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education
Students 93 (Nursery)
372 (Junior School)
552 (Senior School)
Gender Mixed
Ages 2–18
Founder Henry Cockburn, Leonard Horner and John Russell
Website Edinburgh Academy

The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School. The Junior School is located on Arboretum Road to the north of the city's Royal Botanic Garden.

The Edinburgh Academy is now a co-educational day school, boarding having ceased and the transition to co-education having been completed in 2008. The nursery, housed in a 2008 purpose built block on the Junior campus, caters for children from 2 to 5. The Junior School admits children from age 6 to 10 whilst the Senior School takes pupils from age 10 to 18.

Whilst it is self-governed and financed, like all independent schools it remains subject to inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. The most recent inspection was in 2006.[1]

Foundation

In 1822, the school's founders, Henry Cockburn and Leonard Horner agreed that Edinburgh required a new school to promote classical learning. Edinburgh's Royal High School provided a classical education, but the founders felt that greater provision was needed for the teaching of Greek, to compete with some of England's public schools. Cockburn and Horner recruited John Russell as a co-founder and the three of them, together with other interested parties, put a proposal to the City Council for the building of a new school. The City Fathers gave their approval in 1823 and fifteen Directors were elected, comprising the three founders and twelve other luminaries, including Sir Walter Scott, Sir John Hay and Robert Dundas.

Buildings

The Edinburgh Academy main building and playground, photographed in 1981
Donaldsons

The main building of the Senior School, with its Greek Doric frontage, was designed by architect William Burn. The stone used was principally from the nearby Craigleith Quarry. The Foundation Stone was laid in June 1823 and the school opened for the first session in October 1824. In 1892, new classrooms were built along the western wall of the site, and in 1900, the School Library was opened, followed by the new Science Block in 1909, both along the eastern wall. At the back of the school the Dining Hall, and the Rifle Range beneath it, was opened in 1912 and after World War I, the Gymnasium was built. This was dedicated as a War Memorial to Edinburgh Academicals (former pupils) who had fallen during the hostilities of 1914 to 1918.[2] The memorial was by Pilkington Jackson. A later plaque commemorates ex-pupils who fell in the Second World War.

In 1945, a new building, Denham Green House, was acquired in the Trinity area of Edinburgh. This was used for the junior department (now known as Early Years) of the Preparatory School (now known as The Edinburgh Academy Junior School). In 1960, a new building for the upper three years of the Preparatory School was completed in Inverleith (Arboretum campus). Denham Green's nursery and early years facilities were relocated to purpose built accommodation on the Preparatory school's Arboretum campus in 1987. In 1992, the Rector's residence, Academy House and in 1997, a new Games Hall were constructed on the same campus. The latter was partly funded by money from The Lottery and Sports Council and is for the use not only of pupils in both parts of the school but also of the community in the area. A new computing and music building was completed at the Junior School in 2005 and a new nursery and after school facility in 2008.

At Henderson Row, the property next to the school, No 32, was acquired for administrative use in 1972 and in 1977, the Academy acquired the junior school of Donaldson's College, to the west. This allowed departments to expand and a purpose built Music School was opened on this part of the campus in 1991. In 2005 the 1909 science block was demolished and a new science block, the James Clerk Maxwell Centre, named in honour of the 19th century scientist and former pupil, was opened on 3 November 2006 by Lord Falconer of Thoroton.[3]

Blair House

Situated in Glen Clova, Angus, but no longer owned by the academy, Blair House was a centre for learning in the Cairngorms and is a former forestry lodge. It was used for Art and Geography at A-Level and Biology at A-Level. There were also yearly trips for geits (P7 pupils). It is just a short walk from the Cairngorms National Park which includes Glendoll Forest and Corrie Fee nearby.

Traditions

Saturday morning cricket

In 1905, the school was divided into four houses or "Divisions": Cockburn, named after the founder Henry Cockburn, Carmichael, named after a former teacher, James Carmichael, Kinross, named after a former pupil John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross, and Houses, representing the boys who lived in the boarding houses.

At one time, schoolboys used to play Hailes, a similar game to shinty, also believed to have been played in the Royal High School. Today the tradition is represented only by an annual match at the end of the school year, when the Ephors play against the other leavers from the seventh year, a match usually played in fancy dress.

Alumni of the Edinburgh Academy are known as Academicals, or Accies, a name shared with the Rugby team.

Police investigation and allegations of bullying

Since 2000, there have been serious allegations of bullying, as well as several others being physically abused by fellow students.[4]

Police are also investigating claims made by pupils from further back of alleged sexual abuse by staff members in the 1970s.[5]

Notable alumni

See also: List of people educated at Edinburgh Academy and Category:People educated at Edinburgh Academy

Rectors of The Edinburgh Academy

There have been 18 rectors of The Edinburgh Academy since it was founded in 1824.[2]

Other Staff of Note

See also

References

  1. ↑ HM Inspectors' Report, 2006
  2. 1 2 Edinburgh Academy Website – History of the School
  3. ↑ Edinburgh Academy Website – opening of James Clerk Maxwell Centre
  4. ↑ http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/edinburgh-academy-investigates-bullying-allegation-1-3388936
  5. ↑ http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/education/police-probe-sex-abuse-claims-at-edinburgh-academy-1-3676989

External links

Coordinates: 55°57′39″N 3°12′16″W / 55.9608°N 3.2045°W / 55.9608; -3.2045

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