Portlethen Academy
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| Portlethen Academy | |
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| Rector | Albert Swinborn |
| Type | State Secondary School |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire Council |
| Location | Bruntland Road, Portlethen, Aberdeenshire AB12 4QL |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Motto | Do Your Best |
| Feeders | Portlethen Primary School, Fishermoss Primary School, Newtonhill Primary School, Banchory-Devenick Primary School |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Years | 6 |
| Secondary Years | S1-S6 |
| Website | [1] |
| portlethen.aca@aberdeenshire.gov.uk | |
| Telephone | +44 01224 782174 |
| Fax | +44 01224 782076 |
Portlethen Academy is a secondary school in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire. Portlethen Academy opened on April 20th 1987, and is now fully established as a six year comprehensive school. The opening provided a new school for the communities of Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls and Banchory Devenick. Before this, pupils from these areas were bused to Mackie Academy, in near-by Stonehaven. The original building of the school was built for a capacity of around 650, but the school role grew over 800 pupils, so Aberdeenshire Council commissioned a new school in the form of the PPI2 Scheme. Originally owned by Grampian Regional Council and Kincardine and Deeside District Council, the school was overtaken by Aberdeenshire Council, when it formed in 1996. The current headmaster of the school is Albert Swinborn.
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[edit] Old building
With the expansion of the communities of Portlethen and Newtonhill in the 1980s, the Education Committee of Grampian Regional Council decided to build a new six year Academy in Portlethen and the Academy has expanded in numbers each session since April 1987 when it opened with 180 pupils in Years 1 and 2. As the roll rose, the school became too small to accommodate all the pupils and staff, so portable cabin classrooms were added.
[edit] Proposal for and construction of a new building
As early as the turn of the millennium, plans existed for a new school, to be built as part of the Government's PP2 scheme. It was to be built and managed by Robertson FM, and to be built on the playing fields adjacent to the existing academy. Construction started in June 2004, and was completed by the end of July 2006.
[edit] Relocation
The new building opened on 22nd August 2006, after the summer holidays. The existing school has been knocked down, and, in stage 2 of the relocation programme, is being replaced by playing fields, including an AstroTurf all-weather pitch. This stage of the construction is still ongoing, the main car parks which form part of the area are now open but the all-weather pitch is still under construction. The community library has opened to the public and the new Community Centre is also open. It is currently unknown what will happen with the old community centre, although it is currently being treated for asbestos removal. All ALIS members have access to the new library which offers a wide range of book and non-book resources. The library is managed by a full-time professional librarian, Carol Love, who also manages the Newtonhill branch library, with the support of a team of 5 library assistants. The school has state of the art facilities, and is one of the most technologically advanced and biggest schools in Scotland.
[edit] Community School
Portlethen Academy is aiming to become more involved in the local community after moving into the new building. As well as hosting the library, it is home to the Portlethen Panthers basketball team.
[edit] Controversy
In February 2005 deputy head teacher William Fraser pled guilty to posessing thousand of indecent photogaphs of young boys. Mr Fraser taught technical drawing and coached the hockey team. He was given two years' probation and 140 hours' community service and was placed on the sex offenders' register. [2]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Portlethen Academy- [3]
Aberdeenshire Council- [4]
