The Glasgow Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Glasgow Academy |
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Colebrooke Street
, G12 8HE
Scotland
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| Type | Public School Private day school |
| Motto | Serva Fidem (Keep Faith) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of Scotland |
| Established | 1845 |
| Founders | Members of Free Church of Scotland |
| Local authority | Glasgow City Council |
| Chair | Jane Gotts |
| Rector | Matt Gibson |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 3 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1660 |
| Houses | Arthur Fraser Morrison Temple |
| Charity Number | SCO 15638 |
| Campuses | Kelvinbridge, Milngavie & Newlands |
The Glasgow Academy is a private school in Glasgow, Scotland. It welcomes both boys and girls aged 3 to 18. In 2016, the school had some of the best exam results in Scotland. It was founded in 1845 and is the oldest private school in Glasgow that has always been open.
Contents
A Look at the School's History
How The Glasgow Academy Started
In May 1845, a group of people met in Glasgow. They wanted to create a new school for the city. This meeting led to the founding of The Glasgow Academy.
Important Moments in Time
The Scottish Rugby Union was created at The Glasgow Academy. This happened on March 3, 1873. The school's war memorial was designed by a former student, Alexander Nisbet Paterson, in 1922.
In 1981, a big change happened: girls were allowed to attend the school for the first time. Later, in 1991, The Glasgow Academy joined with Westbourne School for Girls. The school then adopted the purple color from Westbourne's uniform.
The Glasgow Academy's junior school was the first in the UK to win the Diana Gold Award. This award is given for efforts against bullying. In 2024, the school also received the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. This award came from the Ministry of Defence.
The current head of the school is Matt Gibson. He became the Rector in 2025.
Famous People Who Went Here
Many notable people have attended The Glasgow Academy. They have gone on to achieve great things in various fields.
Writers and Artists
- J. M. Barrie, who wrote the famous story Peter Pan.
- James Bridie, a well-known playwright and screenwriter.
- Jack Buchanan, an actor, singer, and dancer.
- Sir David Young Cameron, a Scottish painter.
- George MacDonald Fraser, an author.
- Maurice Lindsay, a Scottish broadcaster and poet.
- William Sharp, a poet and writer.
Sports Stars
- Laura Bartlett, an Olympic athlete in British hockey.
- John Beattie (rugby union), a rugby player for Scotland.
- Chris Simmers, a professional rugby player.
- Herbert Waddell, a Scottish rugby player.
Leaders and Thinkers
- Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of Scotland.
- Ronald Drever, a physicist who helped detect gravitational waves.
- Niall Ferguson, a history professor at Harvard University.
- John Kerr, Baron Kerr of Kinlochard, a diplomat.
- Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker, a philosopher.
- Neil MacGregor, a former Director of the British Museum.
- William Ramsay, a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. He discovered the gas 'Argon'.
- John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, who founded the BBC.
- Ninian Smart, a scholar of religion.
- Norman Stone, a historian.
- Iain Vallance, Baron Vallance of Tummel, a former Chief Executive of BT.
- Sir James Wordie, a polar explorer.
Other Notable Alumni
- Frederick Anderson, a chairman in Shanghai.
- John Arthur, a missionary.
- Sir James Caird, who founded the National Maritime Museum.
- John Traill Cargill, a chairman of Burmah Oil Company.
- Jackson Carlaw, a Scottish politician.
- Horatio Scott Carslaw, a mathematics professor.
- Archibald Corbett, 1st Baron Rowallan, a politician.
- Douglas Crawford, a Scottish politician.
- Pippa Crerar, a political editor.
- Darius Campbell, a singer and actor.
- Andrew Dunlop, Baron Dunlop, a politician.
- Walter Elliot, a Scottish politician.
- Alexander Forrester, a cricketer.
- John Gardner (law), a law professor.
- Thomas Dunlop Galbraith, 1st Baron Strathclyde, a Scottish politician.
- Sir Louis Leisler Greig, a naval surgeon.
- Sir Angus Grossart, a chairman of a bank.
- Rev. Dr Andrew Harper, a scholar.
- Sir Michael Hirst, a Scottish politician.
- Sir William Wilson Hunter, a British official in India.
- Andrew Innes, a cricketer.
- Jeremy Isaacs, who founded Channel 4.
- William Paton Ker, a literary critic.
- Sir James Lithgow, a shipbuilder.
- Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart, a politician.
- Alan MacNaughtan, an actor.
- Guy McCrone, an author.
- George Matheson, a theologian.
- Jim Mollison, a pioneer aviator.
- W. H. Murray, a mountaineer and writer.
- Robin Nisbet, a professor of Latin literature.
- David Omand, a former senior British civil servant.
- Alexander Pollock, a Scottish politician.
- Albert Russell, a Scottish politician.
- James Scott, an obstetrician.
- William Walker, a cricketer and army officer.
Famous People from Westbourne School for Girls
When Westbourne School for Girls merged with The Glasgow Academy, many of its former students also became part of the Academy's history.
- Vivien Heilbron, an actress.
- Fiona Kennedy, a singer and actress.
- Kate Mavor, the CEO of English Heritage.
- Jacqueline Lee, who founded Artemis Scotland.
