Hermitage Academy (Scotland)

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
Address
Cardross Road

Helensburgh
,
Argyll & Bute
,
G84 7LA

Scotland
Information
TypeSecondary school
MottoNulla Virtus Sine Labore
Established1880
Acting Head TeacherDouglas Morgan
GenderCoeducational
Enrolment1,260[1]
Colour(s)   
Websitehttp://www.hermitageacademy.argyll-bute.sch.uk
This article is about the secondary school in Helensburgh, Scotland. For the secondary school in Chester-le-Street, England, see Hermitage Academy (England).

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]

History
Hermitage Academy, Cardross Road building
1966-2008 Hermitage Academy buildings

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.

Robert Williamson retired at the end of the school term in 2020. Prior to joining Hermitage in 2017, Mr Williamson was Head Teacher at Drumchapel High School. Mr Williamson replaced Geoff Urie, who retired in June 2017. The role was filled until October 2017 by David Mitchell, the substantive Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School. [8]

Douglas Morgan took up the post of Acting Head Teacher in January 2021. [9]

The school's motto is Nulla Virtus Sine Labore, which translates to Nothing Achieved Without Hard Work.[10]

As of November 2018, the school had 1284 pupils and almost 100 teaching staff.[2]

Notable alumni

References
  1. http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00532232.xlsx
  2. "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. Galloway, Andy (25 August 2020). "Hermitage Academy head teacher Robert Williamson to retire". Helensburgh Advertiser. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  9. https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/18972457.hermitage-academy-head-teacher-robert-williamson-retires/
  10. "Hermitage Academy - School Aims". Hermitage Academy. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  11. "Scottish Minister grew up in burgh". Helensburgh Heritage. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  12. "BBC Sport - Hazel Irvine". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. "Sport – Stephen Park OBE". Heroes Centre. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  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 11 April 2018.

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