Inverness Royal Academy
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| Motto | Labore et Virtute |
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| Established | 1792 |
| Type | State Comprehensive |
| Rector | John Considine M.A. (Hons), M.Ed. |
| Staff | c120 |
| Students | c910 |
| Location | Inverness, Highland, United Kingdom |
Inverness Royal Academy is a secondary school (comprehensive) located in the Culduthel area of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] History
Inverness Royal Academy was founded in 1792, when it replaced the town Grammar School. The Grammar School, which had been located since about 1668 in the building now known as the Dunbar Centre, appears to have developed directly from an earlier school which began with the founding of a Dominican Priory in the Friars Street area of the town in about 1223. Thus the Academy stands at the modern end of an educational development which reaches back over more than seven centuries. In 1793 a Royal Charter was obtained from King George III and, as Inverness Royal Academy, the school operated on the Academy Street site until 1895, in which year it moved to Midmills Road in the Crown area of the town. With various additions, this building housed the Academy until August 1977 when part of the school moved to the new building at Culduthel. For two sessions it was necessary to use the buildings at both Midmills and Culduthel, but in August 1979 the school moved to the new Culduthel site where it is now located.
In 1892, the year of the Academy’s centenary, the Rector, George Bruce, suggested that the school should have a badge. This idea was taken up and the present design eventually agreed, when the arms were matriculated with the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1933. The Crown represents the ‘Royal’ in the title of the Academy; the cat-o-mountain is part of the Arms of Clan MacKintosh, one of whose members was a leading director of the school in its early days; the dromedary and elephant are from the Arms of Inverness, recognising the close relationship there has always been between the town and the school; the book and the burning torch indicate a place of learning.
The school’s motto ‘LABORE ET VIRTUTE’ is best translated as ‘WORK AND EXCELLENCE’. A number of features have been incorporated from the old Academy buildings. The school has War Memorial boards commemorating the former pupils and staff who served in the First and Second World Wars. These are located in the corridor outside the Theatre. Boards containing the names of the Gold Medallists (Dux) Winners from 1811 to 1972, and the Howden Medal winners for Service from 1922 to 1979 are displayed on the staircases. Up to date winners are displayed in the Theatre.
The school bell and bust of Hector Fraser (in the Library) are both linked with the former Grammar School. The bell, in a display case outside the Rector’s office, was gifted to the school in 1756. In 1793 it was moved from the Grammar School to the Academy Street site, then to the Midmills site, then on to the present building after it opened.
[edit] Current Building
The present building opened in 1977 on the southern edge of the town. It is surrounded by extensive playing fields.
The main teaching block has three floors: subject classrooms and practical areas are grouped in departments. There are also a number of huts which have English classrooms, Physics labs, a Home Economics room as well as other less heavily used accommodation.
The Art Department is the only open plan area. Other specialist areas include Home Economics, Music, Sciences, Craft Design & Technology, Computing, and Business Education.
The PE accommodation includes a large games hall, a gymnasium and a dance studio. The school has extensive playing fields and also make use of other facilities elsewhere in the town.
The school has a tiered Theatre which seats 400 people and is fully equipped for stage productions. The school has literally hundreds of computers which are used throughout most subjects to help you learn. The school has a computer network throughout the school with a computer in every classroom and several computer labs. The school has many TV/VCRs, CD players and video cameras. The school has a language lab, a music keyboard lab and a video-conference room.
The school's Library is one of the best in Scotland with around 10,000 volumes, a number of computers and nearly 200 CD Roms available for use. The Library also gives access to a full range of on-line services including the Internet through the Librarian. Study facilities are available and there is a good Careers Library.
The building is accessible to everyone. There are ramps, adapted toilets and a lift so that wheelchair users can be part of the school. Highland Council also give the school some additional staffing to help us meet the needs of all children. A Learning Support Unit accommodates children with very severe physical problems.
[edit] Curriculum
The school curriculum is based on three distinct but interlinked sections. The S1/2 curriculum has many subjects; in S3/4 pupils study eight Standard grades while in S5/6 pupils study National Qualification courses at Higher and Intermediate levels with Advanced Highers available in S6. Our belief is that each pupil should have an opportunity to pursue his or her subject choice and chosen career free from discrimination of any kind.
[edit] Years 1 and 2
The subjects pupils first study in First Year combine to form a common course. This course provides a basis for later study and is also a period in which your pupils own capabilities and interests can be identified and assessed. The following subjects are included:
- English
- Mathematics
- History
- Geography
- Classical Studies
- French or Gaelic
- Science
- Art
- Music
- Home Economics
- Craft, Design and Technology
- Business Education
- Physical Education
- Personal and Social Education
- Religious Education
In Second Year a short course in Computer Awareness is taken by all pupils and a Modern Studies course is introduced. At the end of Second Year pupils choose eight subjects to study at Standard Grade.
[edit] Years 3 and 4
In Third and Fourth year you take 8 subjects. Most subject courses offered are two-year Standard Grade courses. At the end of Fourth Year all pupils are presented for National Qualifications Examinations in their Standard Grade subjects. Awards are made at various levels, reflecting performance throughout the course and in the final examinations:
- Credit awards : Grades 1 and 2
- General awards : Grades 3 and 4
- Foundation awards : Grades 5 and 6
- Course completed : Grade 7
These awards are recorded on the Scottish Qualifications Certificate issued by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
[edit] Years 5 and 6
In general terms the curriculum in years 5 and 6 is designed to allow you to study a smaller range of subjects in depth. Pupils in Fifth Year take 5 courses at Higher or Intermediate level. In Sixth Year some pupils continue the same subject but at a more demanding level. Pupils who successfully complete their Higher Grade courses in Fifth Year may proceed to Advanced Higher in Sixth Year. Some may take up new Higher courses.
[edit] Extra Curricular Activities
Inverness Royal Academy offers some of the following extra curricular activities to its pupils:
| Girls Hockey | Roller Hockey | Football |
| Chess | Athletics | Young Enterprise |
| Basketball | Badminton | Drama Club |
| Rugby | Shinty | Debating/Public Speaking |
| Pipeband | Woodwind Ensemble | Keyboard Club |
| Choir | Drumkit Club | Scottish Ceilidh Band |
| Jazz Group | Guitar Group | Film Club |
| Duke of Edinburgh Award | S5/6 Art Club |
[edit] School Hours
- 8.45 - 8.55 Registration/Assembly
- 8.55 - 9.35 Period 1
- 9.35 - 10.15 Period 2
- 10.15 - 10.55 Period 3
- 10.55 - 11.10 Break
- 11.10 - 11.50 Period 4
- 11.50 - 12.30 Period 5
- 12.30 - 1.30 Lunch
- 1.30 - 2.10 Period 6
- 2.10 - 2.50 Period 7
- 2.50 - 3.30 Period 8
The school timetable operates on the basis of eight forty-minute periods per day, a total of forty periods in the week. Periods are allocated to subjects either as ‘singles’ or ‘doubles’ and pupils move from one subject room to another as required.
Occasionally it may be necessary to depart from these hours and prior notification will normally be given.
[edit] Catchment Area
The school is a six year comprehensive school serving an extensive area. The associated primary schools are Aldourie, Cauldeen, Farr, Foyers, Hilton, Holm, Lochardil and Stratherrick. Children living within our catchment area who attended St. Joseph’s and Bishop Eden primaries also transfer there after Primary 7. Parents living outwith the catchment area can request that their children be placed there. At present around one hundred children live outwith the catchment and attend the acadmey.
[edit] School Board
The School Board provides a means for parental views to be taken into account in the management of the school; it improves communication between school and home and it is involved in establishing spending priorities. The full Board usually meets once per term although in addition, sub-groups may meet to discuss a specific topic.
The board comprises:
- Three parent representatives
- Two teacher representatives
- Two co-opted members (Sixth years)
- A clerk
[edit] Friends of Inverness Royal Academy (FIRA)
Inverness Royal Academy PTA (Parent Teacher Association) recently updated its name to Friends of Inverness Royal Academy and hope to offer an improved, revamped service to all pupils.
FIRA run many entertaining events throughout the school year to raise funds for various school needs.
[edit] Student Representatives
Each year, staff and pupils elect prefects and a head boy and girl from the sixth year students. In 2006, for the first time in recent history, a vice head boy and vice head girl were elected. A number of prefects - usually approximately 25 - are also elected.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Sir Gordon Beveridge
- Professor Sue Black OBE
- James Gordon (Upper Canada)
- Hamish Gray
- G.W.S. Barrow
