Login
Login

Dollar Academy#Former pupils

{{short description|Day and boarding school in Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox school

| name = Dollar Academy

| image = 100px
School Crest
250px
Dollar Academy (Playfair Building)

| image_size =

| motto = {{lang|la|Juventutis Veho Fortunas}}
(Latin: "I carry the fortunes of youth")

| established = {{start date and age|1818}}

| type = Private day and boarding school

| head_label = Rector

| head = Ian Munro

| chair_label =

| chair =

| founder = Captain John McNabb

| address = Academy Place

| city = Dollar

| county = Clackmannanshire

| country = Scotland

| postcode = FK14 7DU

| enrolment = c. 1200

| gender = Coeducational

| lower_age = 5

| upper_age = 18

| houses = Atholl, Mar, Stewart, Argyll

| colours = {{color box|Navy}}{{color box|White}}

| publication = Fortunas (biannual publication)

| free_label_1 = School newspaper

| free_1 = The Galley Student Newspaper

| alumni = Old Academicals

| website = http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk

}}

Dollar Academy is a 5–18 private co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls in Scotland. The open campus occupies a {{convert|70|acre|ha|abbr=off|adj=on}} site in the centre of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, at the foot of the Ochil Hills. The school was founded in 1818 by Captain John McNab and Scottish architect William Henry Playfair was responsible for the design of the school building.

History

=Establishment=

Dollar was founded in 1818 following a bequest by Captain John McNab or McNabb. He captained, owned and leased out many ships over the decades and it is known that at least four voyages transported black slaves to the West Indies in 1789–91,{{Cite web|url=https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyages/XwiCvnqj |title=Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database |website=Slavevoyages.org |access-date=15 October 2019 }} less than twenty years before the Slave Trade Act 1807. In 2019, in order to understand the extent of John McNabb’s involvement in the slave trade, research was commissioned in collaboration with external advisors. The school had been "shamed" about this connection in 1998.{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alasdair |title=Scotland's slave SHAME; Dollar Academy was built from fortune amassed by John McNabb in the slave trade |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/XTRAORDINARY%3B+Scotland%27s+slave+SHAME.-a060758441 |access-date=27 June 2022 |work=Sunday Mail |publisher=Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd |date=15 February 1998}} The school also teaches about McNabb's links to the slave trade in several subjects.{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/about/history/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Dollar Academy|language=en-GB}} McNabb bequeathed part of his fortune – £65,000, {{Inflation|UK|65000|1802|fmt=eq|cursign=£}} – to provide "a charity or school for the poor of the parish of Dollar where I was born".{{Cite web|url=http://dollaracademy.org/history.shtml |title=History of Dollar Academy |access-date=3 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107190936/http://dollaracademy.org/history.shtml |archive-date=7 January 2007 |url-status = dead}}

=Architecture=

William Playfair was commissioned to design the building. The interior of the Playfair Building was gutted by a fire in 1961, but Playfair's Greek-style outer facades remained intact. The interior was rebuilt on a plan based on central corridors with equal-sized classrooms on both sides. An extra (second) floor was concealed, increasing the total available space.{{Cite web|title=A Walk in the Past: The fire at Dollar Academy|url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/17529860.walk-past-fire-dollar-academy/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser|date=27 March 2019 |language=en}} The school was re-opened in 1966 by former pupil Lord Heyworth, and the assembly hall was rebuilt after the fire. The school library is a "whispering gallery" because of its domed ceiling.

Many other buildings have been added to the school over time- such as the Dewar Building for science and the Maguire Building for art and physical education. And in 2016 the Westwater Building was added, named after Private George Philip Westwater, an FP killed in the First World War at Gallipoli. This building contains the Modern Languages department and two Economics classrooms.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/news/776-the-westwater-building |title=The Westwater Building |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625022116/http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/news/776-the-westwater-building |url-status=dead }}

=Recent history=

File:Dollarlibrary.jpg

In 1961, a fire broke out at the school which destroyed the interior of the Playfair Building, with all classrooms and the school library containing 12,000 books being destroyed. Following the outbreak of the fire, the local community and school staff provided assistance for the rebuilding and restructuring of the school whilst teaching continued for pupils within the Prep School facilities as well as within Harviestoun Castle, local halls and even in private houses. The inside of the Playfair Building was reconstructed on three floors instead of the original two and finally re-opened in 1966.

During the 1970s, there was a change in legislation which ultimately resulted in the phasing out the "Direct Grant". The Central Regional Council decide to not continue with the long-standing agreement which was in place in regards to fees for Dollar Parish pupils which resulted in the school becoming an entirely independent school.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://dollaracademy.org.uk/about/history/ |website=Dollar Academy |access-date=15 December 2024}}

In 2024, Dollar Academy was awarded The Sunday Times "Scottish Independent School of the Year".{{cite web |title=Request a Prospectus |url=https://dollaracademy.org.uk/admissions/request-a-prospectus/ |website=Dollar Academy |access-date=15 December 2024}}

Overview

=Coat of Arms=

The school has its own coat of arms, which, in its present form, was devised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1918. The motifs which feature on the coat of arms are derived from the clan Campbell coat of arms, whilst Castle Campbell, dominant as part of both the town and the school, was the lowland seat of the earls and dukes of Argyll, chiefs of clan Campbell, from the 15th to the 19th century. The school crest features a ship motif which was lifted directly from the Campbell Coat of Arms and features as the centrepiece of the schools arms.

Additionally, the school crest features an open book which is a symbolisation of knowledge and the lamp of learning and features the school motto – Juventutis Veho Fortunas which translates to “I bear the fortunes of youth”.

=Enrolment and houses=

File:DollarAssembly.jpg

As of 2020, there are over 1,200 pupils at Dollar Academy,{{Cite web|title=Our People|url=http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/about/our-people|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Dollar Academy|language=en-GB}} making it the sixth largest independent school in Scotland. Day pupils are usually from the village of Dollar or the surrounding counties of Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire, Perth and Kinross, and Fife. The remaining pupils are boarders. Almost 50% of the boarding pupils are from overseas, with the rest being British nationals.{{Cite web|title=Dollar Academy |website=Scotlandsboardingschools.org.uk|url=http://scotlandsboardingschools.org.uk/schools/dollar-academy/|access-date=2020-08-02|language=en-US}}

There are currently four school houses:

  • {{legend|red|Atholl}}
  • {{legend|yellow|Mar}}
  • {{legend|blue|Stewart}}
  • {{legend|green|Argyll}}

=Traditions=

Each year full colours and half colours are awarded to senior pupils for achievement in sporting or cultural pursuits. These awards merit piping on the school blazer (blue for cultural, white for sporting) and/or a distinctive blazer badge. Internationalists' Award ties are presented to pupils, prep, junior, and senior, who have represented their country in sporting or cultural activities.{{Cite web|url = http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/assets/000/000/713/Information_for_Pupils_2014-2015_original.pdf|title = Dollar Academy Information for Pupils Booklet 2014–2015|website=Dollaracademy.org.uk}}

= Pipe Band =

The school has two main pipe bands. The "A" band won the Scottish Schools CCF Pipes and Drums competition every year from 2000 to 2012 and 2014 and 2015,{{cite news |first=Kaiya |last=Marjoribanks |title=Dollar Keep Tight Grip on Trophy |url= http://www.stirlingobserver.co.uk/stirling-news/stirling-schools/2008/07/02/dollar-keep-tight-grip-on-trophy-51226-21209967/ |work=Stirling Observer |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=19 October 2008}}{{Cite web |title=Number of contest performances for Dollar Academy in 2015 |work=The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association |access-date=14 October 2020 |url= https://www.rspba.org/results/displaybanddetail.php?Year=2015&Band=Dollar%20Academy }} as well as winning the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. In 2013, the band was placed first at the last "Major" of the season, the Cowal Gathering. In 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 the band won the Scottish, British, United Kingdom, European, and World Championships,{{Cite web|url = http://www.rspba.org/results/displaybanddetail.php?Year=2015&Band=Dollar%20Academy|title = RSPBA 2015 Results|website=Rspba.org}} leading to them being awarded the title "Champion of Champions". Additionally, the Novice A, or "B" band won the British, Scottish, and European Championships in 2015,{{Cite web|url = http://www.rspba.org/results/displaybanddetail.php?Year=2015&Band=Dollar%20Academy|title = RSPBA 2014 Dollar Academy Results|website=Rspba.org}} and was crowned "Champion of Champions".{{Cite web|url = http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/news/596-dollar-a-band-crowned-juvenile-world-champions|title = Dollar Academy News Article – World Pipe Band Championships|website=Dollaracademy.org.uk}}

=Rectors=

File:Andrewmylne.jpg Dr Andrew Mylne, first Rector of Dollar Academy, (1818–1850)]]

  • The Rev. Dr Andrew Mylne DD (1818–1850)
  • The Rev. Dr Thomas Burbidge (1850–1851)
  • The Dr John Milne LLD (1851–1868)
  • The Rev. Dr William Barrack (1868–1878)
  • George Thom (1878–1902)
  • Charles Dougall (1902–1923){{MacTutor|title=Charles Shirra Dougall|id=Dougall_Charles}}
  • Hugh Martin (1923–1936)
  • Harry Bell OBE (1936–1960)
  • James Millar (1960–1962) – Acting Rector
  • Graham Richardson (1962–1975)
  • Ian Hendry (1975–1984)
  • Lloyd Harrison (1984–1994)
  • John Robertson (1994–2010)
  • David Knapman (2010–2019)
  • Ian Munro (current Rector){{Cite web |url=http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/news/2039-ian-munro-appointed-as-the-14th-rector-of-dollar-academy |title=Ian Munro appointed as the 14th Rector of Dollar Academy |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003049/http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/news/2039-ian-munro-appointed-as-the-14th-rector-of-dollar-academy |url-status=dead }}

Notable alumni

{{See also|Category:People educated at Dollar Academy}}

{{Div col}}

=Academia and science=

=Politics=

=Media and arts=

=Law=

=Military=

=Royal or noble=

=Business=

  • Iain Anderson, automotive industry executive
  • David Greig, landowner
  • Lord Heyworth of Oxton, Chairman of Unilever and ICI
  • Sir Archibald Page, engineer and electricity supply manager{{cite ODNB|id=35349|title=Page, Sir Archibald}}
  • Sir William Reid - mining engineer and joint author of the "Reid Report" on the state of British mining
  • Sir Wei Yuk – nineteenth-century Hong Kong businessman and legislator

=Sport=

=Miscellaneous=

{{Div col end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{official|url=https://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/}}
  • [http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/senior_examresults06.shtml Exam Results 2006]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20100609055319/http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/dollaracademyclackmannanshire.asp Dollar Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]

{{Schools in Clackmannanshire}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Educational institutions established in 1818

Category:Category A listed buildings in Clackmannanshire

Category:Listed schools in Scotland

Category:Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference

Category:Boarding schools in Clackmannanshire

Category:Private schools in Clackmannanshire

Category:Dollar, Clackmannanshire