Oldmachar Academy

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Oldmachar Academy
Oldmachar Academy Badge.gif
Address
Jesmond Drive

Bridge of Don, Aberdeen
,
AB22 8UR

Scotland
Information
TypeSecondary School
MottoNo fish we can't catch, No tower we can't climb, No river we can't cross
EstablishedAugust 1982 (1982-08)
Local authorityAberdeen City Council
Staff40+
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 18
Capacity1104[1]
HousesAuchindoun, Crathes, Esslemont, Fyvie
Colour(s)Purple, blue and silver    
WebsiteOldmachar Academy

Oldmachar Academy is situated in Bridge of Don in the north of Aberdeen in an area of private housing. It is a six-year comprehensive, non-denominational school which opened to pupils in August 1982 (April 1983 on its present site). In 2004 it was ranked in the top 50 Secondary Schools in Scotland.

Overview[]

The school consists of seven blocks built to form an irregular quadrangle, with playing fields to the north of the school. The school buildings have often been a target for vandals, with 140 incidents recorded between 2016 and 2019.[2]

The school receives Primary 7 pupils from the 5 associated Primary schools in its 'Associate Schools Group'. These schools are:

  • Danestone Primary School
  • Forehill Primary School
  • Glashieburn Primary School
  • Greenbrae Primary School
  • Middleton Park School

The current head teacher is Judith Mohamed, who took over in 2014 from Derek Brown.

The school has a capacity of 1,104 pupils. The school roll has gradually fallen over the years, with figures from Aberdeen City Council listing a roll of 852 in 2012, dropping to 656 in 2018, before being forecast to rise slightly in 2020.[3]

The school has a tradition of promoting healthy eating among its pupils, including limiting the amount of fried food available in the canteen.[4] The then-Rector Joseph Leiper took part in a Scotland-wide inquiry into healthy eating in schools in 2004.[5] He was made an OBE for services to education in that year's New Year's Honours list.[6]

Houses[]

As of 2009, there are seven classes in each year group (A to G) except S1 which has six classes. There are four school houses, each named after a local Scottish castle beginning with the letter of the six corresponding classes. "G" does not have its own house due to there not being enough pupils and the absence of a first year "G" class, so they are split into the other houses by year.

The houses are:

Head teachers[]

Name Incumbency
Judith Mohammed 2014-
Derek Brown 2009–2014
James Dalgarno 2004–2009
Joseph Leiper 1984–2004
Campbell Westwood 1982-1984

Notable former pupils[]

  1. ^ "Roll Forecast Oldmachar Academy Schools Group" (PDF). Aberdeen CityCouncil. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ Wyllie, James. "Dismay as 'idiots' cost councils £800,000 by trashing north and north-east public buildings". Press and Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Roll forecast Oldmachar Academy" (PDF). Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Fruit bar kids kill the stodge". Tes. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  5. ^ "'Ban rogue chip vans'". Tes. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ MacLeod, Donald (31 December 2003). "Knighthoods for school and college heads". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

External links[]

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