John Paul Academy

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John Paul Academy
JPA, John Paul
Motto	In Scientia Caritas Abundet - Latin (May Your Goodness Increase with your Knowledge)
Established	1982
Type	Comprehensive school
Headmaster	Charles Docherty
Teaching staff	51.4 FTE
Students	685
Grades	Standard Grade Scottish Qualifications Certificate Highers
Location	Summerston, Glasgow, Scotland
District	Glasgow City
Campus	Arrochar Street
Colours	Blue, White, Yellow

John Paul Academy, more commonly referred to by its pupils as JPA, is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the residential Area of Summerston in Glasgow. It mainly serves the areas of Summerston, Maryhill, Ruchill, Possilpark and Milton districts of Glasgow and has a rough capacity of 800 pupils. The Catchment area for the school has changed since the mid-late 1990s; the areas of Ruchill, Possilpark and Milton were provided by St Augustine's Roman Catholic Secondary School within Milton area, whilst the areas of Bearsden and Milngavie had their children of Catholic denomination taught at JPA.

Opened in 1982 by the then Strathclyde Regional Council it is named after Pope John Paul II who visited Glasgow and hosted an open-air mass in Bellahouston Park during that year.

The School's motto - In Scientia Caritas Abundet, "May Your Goodness Increase with your Knowledge", can be found on the school crest. It consists of the Pope's Episcopal Mitre, The Eagle of Saint John and Saint Paul's sword.

The original head teacher was the late Mr Eamon Rafferty. His post was then taken up by Miss Mary Weeple until she announced her decision to retire in 2007. From 2008 onwards, the temporary head teacher has been the former assistant head teacher Dr Charles Docherty PHD. As of session 2008/2009 Vincent Docherty, formerly Depute Head of St Andrew's in Clydebank, will be headteacher.

In 2002 the school was closed for almost a month due to a fire which started during school hours, all students were evacuated safely without any injury.

In recent years the school has seen a rise in Standard Grade pass rates. Behaviour, by and large has also improved although it is still one of the main problem areas for the school.

3ED, the company in charge of the refurbishment of all 29 of Glasgow's Secondary Schools completed their refurbishment of John Paul in 2003, a vast improvement to the school.