Vale of Leven Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vale of Leven Academy |
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Main Street
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| Information | |
| Type | Secondary |
| Motto | 1884 - 2010 Latin: Virtus Sola Nobilitas (Virtue is the only nobility) 2010 - Present: Achieving Together |
| Established | 1884 |
| Local authority | West Dunbartonshire Council |
| Head Teacher | Matthew Boyle |
| Staff | 150 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 987 |
| Capacity | 1100 |
| Houses | Fleming Grainger McKellen |
| Colour(s) | Maroon and Silver |
| SEED Number | 8304831 |
| Website | http://valeoflevenacademy.net |
Vale of Leven Academy is a secondary school in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is a school that welcomes students from all backgrounds. The school serves the nearby towns of Alexandria, Balloch, Bonhill, Jamestown, and Renton. The current school building opened in June 2009. It can hold about 1,100 students.
Contents
School History
Early Days and New Buildings
The school first opened in 1884. It was called North Public School back then. This first building is now Christie Park Primary. In 1894, the school grew bigger. This allowed students to complete their first two years of secondary education.
In 1909, the school became a full secondary school. It was then renamed Vale of Leven Academy. The school moved to its current location in 1962. This site is in the south of Alexandria, near Renton. St. Martin's RC Primary school is also on this site.
By the early 1970s, the school had too many students. Many classes were held in temporary huts. A new building was added in 1973. It had 28 new classrooms, a large gym, a library, and a cafeteria.
Filming and Fire
In 1996, the school was used for filming. It appeared in the Scottish TV show Take the High Road. School scenes with actor Gary Hollywood were filmed there. Many students wore their uniforms to be extras during school holidays.
On June 22, 2002, a big fire destroyed the "New Building." This building was still called "New" even though it was built decades earlier. The fire caused damage up to three miles away. For the next seven years, many lessons took place in temporary classrooms.
In early 2008, work began on a brand new school building. This project was a partnership between West Dunbartonshire Council and a Dutch company called BAM. The new school was finished in June 2009. It opened for students in August of that year.
School Incidents
In February 2011, the school had to be evacuated. A student brought in an old grenade for a history project. The police, fire brigade, and bomb disposal team were called. They safely removed the grenade and blew it up in a controlled explosion. The school reopened later that day.
In 2018, the school was evacuated again. This happened a few weeks after the summer holidays. A student started a fire in the first-floor toilets. The fire brigade put out the fire by mid-morning. Students were sent home for the day. The school reopened as usual the next day.
Head Teachers
Here are some of the head teachers who have led Vale of Leven Academy:
- Alex Rannie (around 1960–1974)
- Tom Murray (1974 – around 1980)
- Duncan Penny
- Angus McDonald
- Terry Lanagan
- Catriona Robertson (2009–2016)
- Paul Darroch (2016–2017)
- Matthew Boyle (2017–present)
Famous Former Students
Many notable people have attended Vale of Leven Academy:
- David Currie - a journalist and TV presenter for BBC Scotland.
- Peter Haining - a champion rower who won gold at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
- Bobby Kerr - a former football player who captained Sunderland to win the 1973 FA Cup Final.
- Ian McColl - a Scottish football player for Queen's Park and Rangers. He also managed the Scotland national team.
- Sharleen Spiteri - a singer and guitarist. She is the lead singer of the Scottish pop-rock band Texas.
- Stuart David - a co-founder of the bands Belle and Sebastian and Looper.
- Kelly Ann Woodland - a news journalist and reporter for STV news.
- Lynn Faulds Wood - a Scottish television presenter and journalist.
- Lachie Stewart - won a gold medal in the 10,000 metres at the 1970 Commonwealth Games.
Famous Former Teachers
- Alastair Campbell, Lord Bracadale - a retired senior judge in Scotland.
Images for kids
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The new school building from the South
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The old school building
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The demolition of the old school building
