Hermitage Academy

Hermitage Academy is a non-denominational secondary school in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is one of two secondary schools in the Helensburgh area (the other being Lomond School) and is currently the largest secondary school in Argyll and Bute.

Hermitage Academy
Motto Nulla Virtus Sine Labore
Established 1880
Type Secondary School
Head Teacher Robert Williamson
Location Cardross Road
Helensburgh
Argyll & Bute
G84 7LA
Scotland
Students 1,260[1]
Gender Coeducational
Colours             
Website Hermitage Academy

The school catchment area extends from the Firth of Clyde to Loch Lomond and the Rest and be thankful, including in addition to the town of Helensburgh the villages of Cardross, Rhu, Shandon, Garelochhead, Clynder, Rosneath, Kilcreggan, Arrochar, Tarbet and Luss and other rural areas. Since this catchment area straddles the Highland Boundary Fault Line, the school is uniquely both a Lowland and a Highland school.[2]

Hermitage Academy in black and white.
Hermitage Academy

History

The school was originally located in East Argyle Street next to the current primary school; the first Gothic building, with four classrooms and a music room and an intended capacity of 500, opened in 1880.[3][4] In 1966, after complaints of overcrowding,[5] the secondary school was replaced by a new building[6] at Campbell Drive, Helensburgh, but when this proved too small, a second building of equal capacity was built beside it.[7] In February 2008 the school was again relocated to a new campus on the outskirts of the town.[2] The school badge features the main entrance of the original Hermitage School.

The head teacher is Robert Williamson. Formerly the Head Teacher at Drumchapel High School in Glasgow, Mr Williamson will join the school on 23 October 2017.[8]

Mr Williamson takes over at the helm from David Mitchell, the substantive Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School [9] who took over as Acting Head Teacher following the retirement of Geoff Urie in June 2017, who announced his retirement just prior to a heavily critical inspection report was published on the school.[10]

The school's motto is Nulla Virtus Sine Labore, which translates to Nothing Achieved Without Hard Work.[11]

As of June 2014, the school has 1350 pupils and almost 100 teaching staff.[2]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00532232.xlsx
  2. 1 2 3 "About us: Facilities". Hermitage Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Opening of Hermitage School, Helensburgh". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1880. p. 3.
  4. ↑ Young, Leslie B. (5 October 1979). "School's 100 years". Letters. The Glasgow Herald. p. 6.
  5. ↑ "Assurance on Helensburgh New School". The Glasgow Herald. 15 December 1958. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Hermitage opened at Helensburgh". The Glasgow Herald. 26 November 1966. p. 15.
  7. ↑ "Newsletter: Academy Sites" (PDF). Helensburgh Heritage Trust. July 2007.
  8. ↑ Craig Borland (2017-10-16). "New head teacher shares his vision for Hermitage". Helensburgh Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  9. ↑ Borland, Craig (17 August 2017). "Helensburgh school's new acting head says he's up for the challenge". Helensburgh Advertiser. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Andrew Denholm Education Correspondent. "Exam-row headteacher steps down ahead of critical report". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  11. ↑ "Hermitage Academy - School Aims". Hermitage Academy. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  12. ↑ "Scottish Minister grew up in burgh". Helensburgh Heritage. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "BBC Sport - Hazel Irvine". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Heroes Centre - Derek Parlane". Heroes Centre. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "URTV, Helensburgh & Lomond TV". URTV. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Helensburgh Heroes - Richard Tait". Helensburgh Heroes. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - Special collections - Collections A-Z - Peter Donald Thomson Papers". Gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  18. ↑ "Sport – Stephen Park OBE". Heroes Centre. Retrieved 20 September 2018.

Coordinates: 55°59′40″N 4°41′52″W / 55.99454°N 4.69786°W / 55.99454; -4.69786

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