Shawlands Academy

Shawlands Academy is a non-denominational secondary school on the southside of Glasgow, Scotland.

Admissions

It has a roll of approximately 1,250 pupils and 90 teachers. It is south of Crossmyloof railway station, west of Queen's Park, in the south of central Glasgow, on the A77.

History and features

In 2002, some of the school buildings underwent extensive renovation with one of its most prominent features the brand new gymnasium. It is built beside the Mathematics building, offering students more space and classrooms to carry out their physical education time more effectively.

At present there are over 50 languages spoken by the school's students. The Bilingual Unit helps those not proficient in English to improve their language skills and hence access the wider curriculum.

Ann Grant is the Head Teacher who was appointed in June 2007 and joined the school in September 2007.

Former teachers

• Jane McCarry, actress

Charity Committee

The school's Charity Committee was founded in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Money was originally raised through class collections and small collections at school events. The committee's first large event was a curry and ceilidh night and money raised from this went directly to small charities in communities which were affected by the tsunami. The committee has held subsequent events, both small and large scale. As of Christmas 2006, after just two years, the committee had raised roughly £10,000. Charity events in 2010 alone raised over £5,000 for the Pakistan Flood Appeal.

Sports teams

Shawlands Academy plays host to a great many sports teams and clubs which offer students extracurricular activity, all within the school premises. The school has a history of success with its cricket team, producing a number of junior representative players and winning the Glasgow Schools Junior and Senior titles on a number of occasions.

Pluralism

Shawlands is noted for its pluralism. In the 1960s, the school had a particularly high concentration of Jewish pupils, and was consequently one of the few state schools in Scotland to offer Hebrew as a curriculum subject. Today its multi-cultural character is striking. According to a survey in 2006, over 57 languages are spoken in the playground.^[1]

Alumni

Shawlands alumni include:

• Gaffar Ali, committed one of Scotland's biggest bank frauds, when he escaped to Pakistan with £1.4 million in October 2004
• Ghazal Asif, contestant on the 2007 series of BBC1's The Apprentice.
• Jonathan Bernstein, screenwriter (Just My Luck, Max Keeble's Big Move, The Spy Next Door) and author (Hottie, Burning Embrace, Pretty In Pink)
• Claire Codona, Britain's youngest female murderer (when aged 14) who, with four older males, murdered a 33 year old male homosexual in June 1995
• Grant Evans, footballer (Greenock Morton F.C.)
• Michelle Gomez, actress
• Chris Hamilton, footballer (Queen's Park)
• Robert McIlroy, footballer (Kilmarnock FC)
• Alan Mcilwraith, fantasist
• Robert Millar, former professional road cyclist
• John Robertson, Labour MP from 2005 for Glasgow North West, and from 2000-5 for Glasgow Anniesland
• William Rogue, musician, actor
• Jerry Sadowitz, comedian, magician
• Atta Yaqub, actor

Grammar school

• Robert Angus, Social Security and Child Support Commissioner from 1995-2007
• Prof Ronald Arnold, Regius Professor of Engineering from 1946-63 at the University of Edinburgh
• Alasdair Auld, Director from 1979-88 of Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries
• John Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan OBE, Chairman from 1956-64 of the Scottish Liberal Party
• Simon Bell, singer known for his work with Dusty Springfield & others
• Ian Brady (then known as Ian Sloan), notorious convicted child murderer
• Ian Chapman CBE, Chairman from 1972-96 of Scottish Radio Holdings, and Chief Executive from 1981-9 of William Collins (since 1990 known as HarperCollins)
• James Craigen, Labour MP from 1974-87 for Glasgow Maryhill
• Ivor Cutler, comedian (1923-2006)
• James Dickens OBE, Labour MP from 1966-70 for Lewisham West
• John Grant CBE, Director from 1963-77 of the University of Durham Institute of Education, and Principal from 1960-3 of St Cuthbert's Society
• Prof Norman Grist, Professor of Infectious Diseases from 1965-83 at the University of Glasgow Medical School
• Prof John Hawthorn, President from 1973-5 of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, and from 1974-8 of the International Union of Food Science and Technology
• Eileen Herlie, actress
• Prof Tom Husband, Vice-Chancellor from 1990-7 of the University of Salford, Professor of Engineering Manufacture from 1981-90 at Loughborough University, and Chairman from 1997-2000 of UKERNA
• Hugh Lang CBE, Chief Executive from 1977-92 of P-E International (since 2004 known as HTSPE)
• Flt Lt Archie McKellar DSO DFC, RAF Spitfire and Hurricane pilot during the Battle of Britain
• Ian McPherson, Director since 2009 of the NHS National Mental Health Development Unit, and from 2002-9 the Director of the National Institute for Mental Health in England
• John Martyn OBE, musician
• James Maxwell CBE, (the first) Chairman from 1950-6 of ABTA, and General Manager from 1947-56 of Thomas Cook & Son
• Alexander Meikle CBE, General Manager from 1943-66 and Chairman from 1969-76 of the Woolwich Equitable Building Society
• Jack Milroy, comedian noted for his partnership with Rikki Fulton, as Francie and Josie. Awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to entertainment.
• Alex Norton, actor
• Maurice Miller, Labour MP from 1974-87 for East Kilbride, and from 1964-74 for Glasgow Kelvingrove
• Prof Thomas Read, former Professor of Clinical Dental Surgery from 1931 at the University of Leeds
• Reay Tannahill, historian
• John Thomson, Managing Director from 1949-68, and Chairman from 1970-2 of Northcliffe Newspapers
• Bobby Wellins, saxophonist
• Very Rev Hugh Wyllie, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1992-3

See also

• Pollokshields
• Shawlands

References

External links

• The school's website
• Shawlands Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online