Lenzie Academy

Lenzie Academy is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school located in Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The catchment area covers Lenzie, Auchinloch and southern parts of Kirkintilloch.

Senior Management Team

The school is managed by a Senior Management Team, composed of the Head Teacher and six Deputy Head Teachers, each in charge of a year group. The most recently published team membership was for 2014/2015 and consisted of:^[4]

• Brian Paterson, Head Teacher
• Morag Elliott, Deputy Head Teacher (S6)
• Jeanie Robertson, Deputy Head Teacher (S5)
• Fiona Clyne, Deputy Head Teacher (S4)
• Neil Farquhar, Deputy Head Teacher (S3)
• Robyn Sinclair, Acting Deputy Head Teacher (S2)
• Karrie Munro, Deputy Head Teacher (S1)

School roll

The most recently reported school roll is 1296, taught by a teaching staff of 101.^[2] The S1 intake cap is 240, based on an average annual first year intake of eight classes of approximately thirty pupils each, mostly coming from four associated primary schools, namely Auchinloch, Millersneuk, Lairdsland and Lenzie Meadow Primary. Approximately 40% of the total roll are from outside the catchment area, attending as placing requests. The S1 rolls have slightly reduced in recent years and in early 2012 the reported 2012/2013 intake was 226 pupils, consisting of 125 from the zoned area and 101 through placing requests.^[5] The total school roll has been falling every year for the last 8 years with the 2011/2012 figure being 25 pupils lower than the previous years 1321 pupils.^[6]

Table

Historical Alcohol/Drugs controversies

In October 1995, two 12-year-old boys were suspended for dealing with drugs. It followed a string of other drug-related incidents. In 1994, a 16-year-old was expelled for drug dealing, then re-admitted. Also that year, four pupils were suspended over claims of drug taking, and a 15-year-old boy was arrested outside school and charged with possessing cannabis."^[16] Eight pupils who smoked cannabis on a school trip to Alton Towers were suspended for a fortnight following a disciplinary hearing at the school in June 1998.^[17]

Bullying/Gang issues

The school has also received continuing attention for problems with gangs/bullying as well as knife crime.^[18][19][20]

The suicide of Nicola Anne Raphael, a pupil at Lenzie Academy, in 2001 was heavily covered in local and national press and came after Nicola had suffered years of bullying.

Further controversies

Fingerprinting

In 2007/2008 a controversial fingerprinting scheme was piloted at the school before being introduced to schools across east Dunbartonshire. Parents raised concerns about the fingerprint identity scheme before it was rolled-out to other secondary schools. One father said: "Most people associate fingerprinting with suspected criminals...I'd like to know how much this is costing. Surely the money could be used for more important things." A mum also told the Herald that she wanted her daughter to be opted out of the scheme saying:"It seems like a 'Big Brother' scenario with pupils being monitored."^[21] SNP MSP Gil Paterson also has questions about the system and is planning to raise the matter in Holyrood. At a parent council forum meeting in 2009, parents representing all six schools next in line for the scheme voted for caution, refusing to give the system their backing until a consultation process is carried out.^[22]

Leavers' Ball

In 2010 parents of S6 pupils were left not knowing, even on the day before it was to take place, whether the 2010 leavers' dinner would go ahead after more than 100 pupils were excluded from the school on their last day for wearing shorts. The parents criticised the school for its treatment of their offspring, who were even barred from attending their leavers' presentation lunch, and said the school had not told them what took place. One parent said: "We feel as if we are being left in the dark. As a parent I still have not had any communication about what happened on the day or about the leavers' dinner...We have already paid 65 for my son to attend the leavers' dinner, but we are not sure if he can go." Over 100 pupils were prevented from entering the school gates on their final day of term on 7 May 2010, senior teaching staff in their cars then followed the students to guarantee they did not return. ^[23]

Music teacher campaign

In December 2011 pupils mobilised in an attempt to stop a popular music teacher Jennifer Hay being transferred to a new post at Boclair Academy. Over 500 pupils and parents signed the petition, "Let the Hay Stay", which was also posted online. One student spoke to the local newspaper: “Moving Miss Hay is going to be a huge loss for the music department. She’s an inspiration and is able to influence pupils to achieve their best in such a positive way. Miss Hay has had such a big impact on the school since she joined the academy.”^[24]

Also in December 2011 local MP Jo Swinson led calls to allow elected representatives the right to hold lunchtime surgeries for pupils in schools after a move to establish a midday meeting at Lenzie Academy was opposed. Swinson hit out at their refusal, and claimed that her younger constituents' rights were being suppressed:“Just because people under 18 cannot vote does not mean that they shouldn’t have a say in politics. While I’m always available to hear constituent concerns during my weekly surgeries, it‘s important that pupils have a chance to have their voices heard on their own ground, in an environment where they feel confident and assured.”^[25][26]

School buildings

The current red brick Academy building was built in 1960 and extensions have been added to it over the years.^[27][28] The original school building dating from when the Academy was founded in 1886 has since served as Lenzie Primary school.^[29] More than 110 years after opening the school admitted its first physically disabled student in 1996 which mean the school had to install a lift and ramps to make the whole building accessible.^[30][31][32] In recent years facilities from the '60s have been wearing out or needing replaced such as in December 2009 when all pupils had to be sent home due to the heating failing. Plans were announced for the heating system to be the replaced though until then staff went round the classrooms each morning with thermometers checking the temperature.^[33][34] In 2008 the interior of the school had to undergo an overhaul costing over £1.7m^[35]

Head teachers

There have been ten head teachers of Lenzie Academy. For 125 years until 2011, the head teacher was referred to as Rector.

Notable people educated at Lenzie Academy

• Moira Anderson (born 1938), Singer^[45]
• Martin Creed (born 1968), Turner Prize-winning artist^[46]
• Rona Dougall, Scotland Tonight presenter, broadcast journalist^[47]
• Jane Duncan (1910–1976), Author (known by her legal name of Elizabeth Jane Cameron while a pupil)^[48]
• Andy Dunlop (born 1972), Travis guitarist^[49]
• Andrew Henderson (born 1980), Scottish rugby union footballer.^[50]
• Tom Johnston (politician) (1882–1965), Secretary of State for Scotland during the Second World War in Churchill's cabinet^[51]
• Jimmy Mack (1934–2004), broadcaster^[52]
• Gus MacPherson (born 1968), footballer.^[53]
• Ian McCartney (born 1951), former MP, chairman of the Labour Party and member of Tony Blair's cabinet^[54] He left the school at the age of 15 "under a bit of a cloud" without any qualifications or school prizes.^[55]
• Rhona McLeod (born 1966), news reader.^[53]
• Nicola Raphael (1985–2001) – A pupil whose suicide and preceding bullying at the school led to press coverage and later legal action.^[56][57]
• Michael Shea (diplomat) (1938–2009), Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II (1978–1987)^[58] He left the Academy after winning a scholarship to Gordonstoun at the age of 14.^[59]
• Billy Williamson (1922–2006), footballer.^[60]

Academic Rankings

In 2014 the school was ranked 13th in STV's league table of Scottish state schools.^[61] This builds upon the 19th position achieved in 2013 and the 16th position achieved in 2012 based on the percentage of pupils obtaining 5 or more Highers at bands A-C. ^[62]

See also

• List of places in East Dunbartonshire
• List of places in Scotland
• Category:People educated at Lenzie Academy

References

External links

• Lenzie Academy Website
• Lenzie Academy on Twitter
• Friends of Lenzie Academy Website
• Lenzie Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online

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