Fraserburgh Academy Explained

Fraserburgh Academy
Address:Dennyduff Road
City:Fraserburgh
County:Aberdeenshire
Postcode:AB43 9NA
Pushpin Map:Scotland Aberdeenshire#Scotland#United_Kingdom
Country:Scotland
Type:Secondary school
Established:1909
Head:Irene Sharp
Head Name:Rector
Gender:Co-educational
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Enrollment:1110 (2017)[1]
Houses:Corbie, Dundarg, Faithlie, Kinnaird, Mormond, Philorth
Free 1:S1-S6
Free Label1:School years
Local Authority:Aberdeenshire Council

Fraserburgh Academy is a secondary school in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. It is one of seventeen schools run by Aberdeenshire Council. The current school building was opened in 1962 by H.R.H The Princess Margaret.

History

Fraserburgh Academy was originally established in 1870, at a site on Mid Street, after local clothier James Park saw a gap in the town's education. The building cost £2500 at the time, and the first headmaster was William McGill.[2] By 1903, Robert Lees was rector of the academy.[3] It was during this time that the school building was no longer fit for purpose, due to the rising school roll. A new school building was built on Finlayson Street at a cost of £7500 and would provide accommodation for 400 pupils and was opened on 8 June 1909 by Dr Dunn H.M Chief inspector of Schools. 300-400 children followed a pipe band from the Mid Street Academy to the new school.[4] By the 1950s the Academy was now full and a replacement was needed. Another building, the current Academy, was built on Dennyduff Road, to accommodate 1500 pupils and was officially opened on 20 September 1962 by H.R.H the Princess Margaret accompanied by Lord Snowdon.[5]

From 2019 to November 2021, a £2 million project was undertaken that saw facilities upgraded and the construction of a new drama studio. The project has allowed the entire school to be contained within a single building.[6] [7]

Notable former pupils

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fraserburgh Academy Handbook 2017-18. 5. Fraserburgh Academy. 2018-11-25.
  2. Book: Cranna, John. Fraserburgh: Past and Present. 1914. 232–233.
  3. News: Death of Fraserburgh Rector . The Glasgow Herald . 2 April 1932 . 11 . 30 September 2017.
  4. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1909/06/09
  5. Book: Jamieson, Agnes C.. Education in Fraserburgh. 1992. [The Author?]. 0951974505. 26764755.
  6. Web site: Proctor. David. 2019-03-23. Fraserburgh Academy in line for potentially dramatic extension. 2021-11-25. Press and Journal. en-GB.
  7. Web site: Proctor. David. 2021-11-25. Multi-million-pound Fraserburgh Academy upgrade work complete. 2021-11-25. Press and Journal. en-GB.