Bathgate Academy
{{Short description|Mixed secondary school in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Bathgate Academy
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| motto = {{Langx|la|Honos Habet Onus}}
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| address = Edinburgh Road
| town = Bathgate
| county = West Lothian
| postcode = EH48 1LF
| country = Scotland
| coordinates = {{Coord|55.8974|-3.6133|display=inline,title}}
| other_name =
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| type = Secondary school
| religious_affiliation =
| established = 1833
| founder = John Newland
| closed =
| local_authority = West Lothian Council
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| gender = Mixed
| age_range = 11–18
| enrolment = 965 (2019)[http://www.bathgateacademy.westlothian.org.uk/article/21598/School-Background School Background], Bathgate Academy
| capacity =
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| houses = {{Hlist|Forth|Nevis|Lomond}}
| colours = Red, blue, yellow {{Color box|Red}}{{Color box|Blue}}{{Color box|Yellow}}
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| website = {{URL|www.bathgateacademy.westlothian.org.uk}}
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Bathgate Academy is a mixed secondary school in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, also serving the nearby town of Blackburn.
History
Established by the will of John Newland (a Jamaican-plantation slave owner) in 1799,[http://www.flagupscotjam.uk/connection/ The First Scots in Jamaica], Flag Up Scotland Jamaica[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/bathgate-procession-john-newland-festival-22170721.amp Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival changes name due to Newland's links to slavery], Daily Record, 10 June 2020[https://newlandsreachingacrossthewaters.wordpress.com/agriculture/a-distant-connection-newlands-sugar-in-jamaica-in-the-18th-19th-centuries/ A Distant Connection – Newlands & Sugar in Jamaica in the 18th – 19th Centuries], Kerrie Anne Christian, Newlands Reaching Across The Waters the school was originally located on Marjoribanks Street;[https://canmore.org.uk/site/47759/bathgate-marjoribanks-street-bathgate-academy Bathgate, Marjoribanks Street, Bathgate Academy], Canmore its main building dates from 1833 and was designed by R & R Dickson.[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=200880 Bathgate Academy], Dictionary of Scottish Architects In 1965, the Academy merged with Lindsay High School and moved fully to a new campus further east at Boghall two years later.[http://www.bathgateacademy.westlothian.org.uk/article/20837/Heritage Heritage], Bathgate Academy The existing Lindsay High building on Kirk Road was taken over by the local Catholic school, St Mary's Academy, which already had its own buildings next door – all were demolished in 1994. From 1970 to 1988, the rector (headteacher) was Ian McGregor.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ian-macgregor-1310877.html?amp Obituary: Ian MacGregor], Tam Dalyell, The Independent, 21 August 1996
The original Academy building was taken over by West Lothian College (originally Bathgate Technological College) in the 1960s[https://www.europese-bibliotheek.nl/en/Books/Bathgate_in_old_picture_postcards/100-132980/Article/10#fragment Bathgate in old picture postcards], William F. Hendrie, {{ISBN|9789028831674}}, via European Library when the secondary school moved to its current location – it was also used as annexe to Balbardie Primary School in the 1960s and 70s. After the college moved to new premises in Livingston,[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/west-lothian-college-celebrates-50th-7400139.amp West Lothian College celebrates 50th birthday], Daily Record, 21 February 2016[https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst92057.html West Lothian College], Gazetteer for Scotland the old Academy lay unused for several years in the early 21st century before being converted to apartments, forming the centrepiece of a development.[https://www.zmarchitecture.co.uk/project/bathgate-old-academy/ Bathgate Academy, Miller developments], ZM Architecture[https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/check-out-145000-bungalow-tucked-16514410.amp Check out the £145,000 bungalow tucked away inside this stunning A-listed West Lothian building], Edinburgh Live, 1 July 2019 Now, The school has a roll of around 1200 pupils and 85 staff. The current headteacher is (Mrs.) Eileen Paxton.
Notable former pupils
{{See also|Category:People educated at Bathgate Academy}}
{{alumni|date= March 2024}}
- John McIntyre, Professor of Divinity and Principal of New College in the University of Edinburgh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Dean of the Thistle
- Paul di Resta, Formula 1 racing driver and television presenter
- Richard B. Angus of Montreal, co-founder of the Canadian Pacific Railway and President of the Bank of Montreal
- Lieutenant-General Sir James Baird, senior British Army officer and Director General Army Medical Services
- Sir Andrew Stark, British ambassador to Denmark
- Jack Kane, Lord Provost of Edinburgh
- Robert Lyell Mitchell, chemist
- Marcus Fleming, economist
- Very Rev Alison Elliot, first female Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
- William Wolfe, Leader of the SNP
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.bathgateacademy.westlothian.org.uk/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Schools in West Lothian}}
Category:Secondary schools in West Lothian
Category:Educational institutions established in 1833