Queen Margaret Academy (Scottish Gaelic: àrd-sgoil/Acadamh banrigh Maighread) is a Roman Catholicsecondary school in the south of Ayr in southwest Scotland. Established in 1856 as St. Margaret's School, Queen Margaret Academy was formed in 1966 and became a state-run school overseen by South Ayrshire Council. Queen Margaret Academy takes Catholic children aged 11 to 18 from the whole of South Ayrshire and parts of East Ayrshire.[1]
The origins of the school can be traced back to 1831, when the first attempts were made to establish a school to educate Catholic children in Ayr. The original St Margaret's school was founded in 1856 on the site of what is now St Margaret's Church Hall in Elba Street, Ayr. Administered by the church authorities, money was tight, resources scant and discipline harsh. Years of determined hard work saw standards and pupil numbers rise.
In 1893 the school moved to Whitletts Road, adjacent to Craigie Park, where over seventy-three years it developed from a purely primary to a combined primary and secondary school. An additional building and huts were erected in the early 20th century to cope with the rising school roll. After the Second World War such was the overcrowding that St Catherine's Primary School was built at Dalmilling to relieve the pressure. However, by February 1962 the lack of accommodation was still a serious problem. A fire destroyed one of the main buildings in the October of that year.[2]
Queen Margaret Academy, 1966edit
In August 1966, the secondary department moved to a new building in Mainholm Road, adjacent to Mainholm Academy, and was renamed Queen Margaret Academy; the primary department remained at Whitletts Road and was renamed St John's Primary School. When the lower school leaving age rose to 16, both Queen Margaret and Mainholm Academies outgrew their accommodation. Consequently, it was decided that Mainholm Academy should also occupy the entire site on Mainholm Road, and a new building be constructed to house the pupils of Queen Margaret Academy. Initially the site of the current Kyle Academy was considered, but felt to be too small.
The school moved into a new buildings in Dalmellington Road in January 1976, and they were officially opened in 1977. Based on an experimental design, the teaching areas are located in one building with large open plan areas across for study and learning. The PE facilities, crush hall and dinner are in a separate building linked by a covered walkway. Attached to the school is the South Ayrshire Supported Learning Centre, which caters for pupils with specific educational needs.
New school buildingedit
In January 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the school to announce that a new building would be constructed to replace the current building. Construction began to the left of the site in December 2017 with the demolition of the Dance Area. The new building opened to pupils on 24 October 2019.[3][4]
School profileedit
League table and rankingsedit
Queen Margaret Academy is currently (as of 2011) in the top 50 (out of an approx total of 376) performing schools in Scotland.
Motto and armsedit
The school motto is Omne Opus Bonum which is Latin for every good work. The arms were granted to the school in February 1955.
Head Teacheredit
Following the retirement of Antony Flynn as head teacher, in February 2018, Oonagh Browne, Depute Head Teacher at nearby Kyle Academy, was appointed head teacher of Queen Margaret Academy.[5]
List of Head Teachersedit
1856–1869 – unknown
Miss Bridget Bird (1869–1874)
Miss Annie McLaughlin (1874–1878)
Miss Johanna Parker (1878–1880)
Miss Agnes Eugenie Card (1880–1882)
Miss Margaret Gibson (1883)
Miss Mary Cairns (1883–1885)
Miss Annie McDonald (1885–1888)
Mrs Flora MacDonald (1888–1894)
Miss Catherine MacDonald (1894)
Mr James McGrorry (1894–1899)
Mr Laurence Gemson (1899–1933) – Longest serving headteacher. Founder and director of Ayr United in 1910. Manager of the team, 1915–18.
Mr Joseph H. Daly (1933–1954) – Died suddenly in office, 1954.
Mr James McGloin (1954–1976) – Pioneer of schools broadcasting.
^Behan, Paul (29 August 2021). "High school pupils in Ayrshire nailed down £3,000 grants for good causes". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
^Education (Scotland), HM Inspectorate of (2008). Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr, South Ayrshire Council, 18 March 2008: A Report. HMIe. ISBN978-0-7053-7208-4.
^Schools (Scotland), Inspectorate of (1998). Standard Inspection of Queen Margaret Academy, South Ayrshire Council. Scottish Office Education and Industry Department. ISBN978-0-7480-7595-9.
^Schools (Scotland), HM Inspectors of (2000). Follow-up to the Inspection of Queen Margaret Academy, South Ayrshire Council. The Inspectors. ISBN978-1-84268-319-4.
^"Letter from headteacher Antony Flynn" (PDF). 27 February 2018.
External linksedit
Queen Margaret Academy Official Website
Queen Margaret Academy - South Ayrshire Council
Queen Margaret Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online
January 01, 1970
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Queen Margaret Academy Scottish Gaelic ard sgoil Acadamh banrigh Maighread is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the south of Ayr in southwest Scotland Established in 1856 as St Margaret s School Queen Margaret Academy was formed in 1966 and became a state run school overseen by South Ayrshire Council Queen Margaret Academy takes Catholic children aged 11 to 18 from the whole of South Ayrshire and parts of East Ayrshire 1 Queen Margaret Academy Acadamh banrigh MaighreadSchool badge Queen Margaret Academy buildingLocationDalmellington Road Ayr ScotlandCoordinates55 26 29 N 4 36 12 W 55 4413 N 4 6034 W 55 4413 4 6034InformationTypeState co educational secondary schoolMottoOmne Opus BonumEstablished1856 as St Margaret s School 1966 as Queen Margaret AcademyEducational authoritySouth Ayrshire CouncilHeadteacherOonagh BrowneStaff60 approx YearsS1 S6Age range11 to 18Number of pupils596 2019 20 Colour s Blue red goldFeeder schoolsSacred Heart Girvan St Cuthbert s Maybole St John s Ayr St Ninian s Prestwick and St Patrick s Troon PrimariesWebsiteQueen Margaret Academy Contents 1 History 1 1 St Margaret s School 1856 1 2 Queen Margaret Academy 1966 1 2 1 New school building 2 School profile 2 1 League table and rankings 2 2 Motto and arms 3 Head Teacher 3 1 List of Head Teachers 4 Alumni and former pupils 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSt Margaret s School 1856 edit The origins of the school can be traced back to 1831 when the first attempts were made to establish a school to educate Catholic children in Ayr The original St Margaret s school was founded in 1856 on the site of what is now St Margaret s Church Hall in Elba Street Ayr Administered by the church authorities money was tight resources scant and discipline harsh Years of determined hard work saw standards and pupil numbers rise In 1893 the school moved to Whitletts Road adjacent to Craigie Park where over seventy three years it developed from a purely primary to a combined primary and secondary school An additional building and huts were erected in the early 20th century to cope with the rising school roll After the Second World War such was the overcrowding that St Catherine s Primary School was built at Dalmilling to relieve the pressure However by February 1962 the lack of accommodation was still a serious problem A fire destroyed one of the main buildings in the October of that year 2 Queen Margaret Academy 1966 edit In August 1966 the secondary department moved to a new building in Mainholm Road adjacent to Mainholm Academy and was renamed Queen Margaret Academy the primary department remained at Whitletts Road and was renamed St John s Primary School When the lower school leaving age rose to 16 both Queen Margaret and Mainholm Academies outgrew their accommodation Consequently it was decided that Mainholm Academy should also occupy the entire site on Mainholm Road and a new building be constructed to house the pupils of Queen Margaret Academy Initially the site of the current Kyle Academy was considered but felt to be too small The school moved into a new buildings in Dalmellington Road in January 1976 and they were officially opened in 1977 Based on an experimental design the teaching areas are located in one building with large open plan areas across for study and learning The PE facilities crush hall and dinner are in a separate building linked by a covered walkway Attached to the school is the South Ayrshire Supported Learning Centre which caters for pupils with specific educational needs New school building edit In January 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the school to announce that a new building would be constructed to replace the current building Construction began to the left of the site in December 2017 with the demolition of the Dance Area The new building opened to pupils on 24 October 2019 3 4 School profile editLeague table and rankings edit Queen Margaret Academy is currently as of 2011 in the top 50 out of an approx total of 376 performing schools in Scotland Motto and arms edit The school motto is Omne Opus Bonum which is Latin for every good work The arms were granted to the school in February 1955 Head Teacher editFollowing the retirement of Antony Flynn as head teacher in February 2018 Oonagh Browne Depute Head Teacher at nearby Kyle Academy was appointed head teacher of Queen Margaret Academy 5 List of Head Teachers edit 1856 1869 unknown Miss Bridget Bird 1869 1874 Miss Annie McLaughlin 1874 1878 Miss Johanna Parker 1878 1880 Miss Agnes Eugenie Card 1880 1882 Miss Margaret Gibson 1883 Miss Mary Cairns 1883 1885 Miss Annie McDonald 1885 1888 Mrs Flora MacDonald 1888 1894 Miss Catherine MacDonald 1894 Mr James McGrorry 1894 1899 Mr Laurence Gemson 1899 1933 Longest serving headteacher Founder and director of Ayr United in 1910 Manager of the team 1915 18 Mr Joseph H Daly 1933 1954 Died suddenly in office 1954 Mr James McGloin 1954 1976 Pioneer of schools broadcasting Mr Robert Jardine 1977 1990 Mr Daniel Boyle 1990 1996 Mr Ian McEwan 1996 2007 Mrs Moira Gray 2007 2012 Mr Antony Flynn 2012 2018 Mrs Oonagh Browne 2018 present Alumni and former pupils editSee also Category People educated at Queen Margaret Academy Jenny Colgan b 1972 author her father was a teacher of Technical and Guidance in the school Thomas O Ware b 1993 footballer Kelty Hearts F C David Watson b 2005 footballer Kilmarnock F C References edit Behan Paul 29 August 2021 High school pupils in Ayrshire nailed down 3 000 grants for good causes Daily Record Retrieved 20 September 2021 Education Scotland HM Inspectorate of 2008 Queen Margaret Academy Ayr South Ayrshire Council 18 March 2008 A Report HMIe ISBN 978 0 7053 7208 4 Schools Scotland Inspectorate of 1998 Standard Inspection of Queen Margaret Academy South Ayrshire Council Scottish Office Education and Industry Department ISBN 978 0 7480 7595 9 Schools Scotland HM Inspectors of 2000 Follow up to the Inspection of Queen Margaret Academy South Ayrshire Council The Inspectors ISBN 978 1 84268 319 4 Letter from headteacher Antony Flynn PDF 27 February 2018 External links editQueen Margaret Academy Official Website Queen Margaret Academy South Ayrshire Council Queen Margaret Academy s page on Scottish Schools Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Queen Margaret Academy amp oldid 1184304244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
