Holyrood Secondary School

The school was founded in 1936 and originally functioned as a senior secondary with entry dependent on a high mark in the "qualifying examination". In 1971 the exam was abolished and all Scottish state schools became equal in terms of status, curriculum offered and examinations taken.

In 2012, the school was the subject of a BBC television documentary series titled High School.

In 2017, former pupil Joe McFadden visited Holyrood during his appearance on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. The school was featured in an episode, as McFadden and his dance partner Katya Jones showcased a dance in front of the pupils.

In 2020 Holyrood, along with all other Scottish schools, closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SQA for the first time in 130 years cancelled all exams.

File:Holyrood Secondary School, Glasgow, Scotland.jpg

The original school building, designed by the firm of John Burnet, Son & Dick, was built in 1936, and is now protected as a category B listed building.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB32415|desc=Albert Road, 60 Dixon Road, Holyrood RC School including Janitor's Lodge and Playground Walls|cat=B|access-date=19 March 2019}}

Over the years, the school has had renovation and additional blocks purposely built, known as the "new block" and "I.T. Wing". The new block also features new classrooms for English, religious education and modern languages. The school features over 20 purpose built I.T. rooms and also hosts three drama studios, complete with sound and lighting effects. It has several wood work and metal workshops as well as modern laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology. Nearly all classrooms within the school are fully equipped with smart boards and projectors.

In 2001, Glasgow city council commissioned a modern sports centre to be built directly next to Holyrood, known as Holyrood Sports Centre. The school has exclusive access during the day to all the facilities, with the centre being open at night to the public. The sports centre features a full size synthetic floodlit pitch, three seven-a-side pitches, changing rooms, inside gym hall and shower accommodation. In addition, an open plan gym which can be split into two separate halls, a dance studio and a modern extensive fitness suite. These facilities are used by all pupils for physical education and are an addition to the swimming pool and gymnastics hall.{{cite web|title=Glasgow City Council Sports centres|url=http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Sports_Fitness/FootballCentres/HolyroodSportsCentre|publisher=Glasgow Life|access-date=28 January 2012|archive-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810195358/http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Sports_Fitness/FootballCentres/HolyroodSportsCentre|url-status=dead}}

In 2012, the school was selected as the Glasgow base for the Scottish Football Association's Performance Schools, a system devised to support the development of the best young talented footballers across the country (there are seven such schools across Scotland). As of 2018, the dedicated coach for the young players at Holyrood is Joe McBride.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/holyrood-secondary-glasgow/|title=JD Performance Schools: Holyrood Secondary - Glasgow|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=7 August 2018}}

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |

|-

! style="width: 340px" |Year

!Deputy Head

!Pastoral care team

!Capacity (estimated){{Cite journal|last=Glasgow City Council|title=Holyrood RC Secondary Handbook|url=https://holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Holyrood-Handbook.pdf|journal=}}

|-

| rowspan="2" |First Year (S1)

| rowspan="2" |Mr Quinn

|Ms Mackenzie

| rowspan="2" |381

|-

|Miss Rocchicholi

|-

| rowspan="2" |Second Year (S2)

| rowspan="2" |Mr Roy

|Mr Malone

| rowspan="2" |377

|-

|Miss Madden

|-

| rowspan="3" |Third Year (S3)

| rowspan="3" |Mr Docherty

|Miss Boyle

| rowspan="3" |357

|-

|Miss Reece

|-

|Mr McAvoy

|-

| rowspan="2" |Fourth Year (S4)

| rowspan="2" |Ms McMahon

|Miss Campbell

| rowspan="2" |379

|-

|Mrs Darroch

|-

| rowspan="2" |Fifth Year (S5)

| rowspan="2" |

|

| rowspan="2" |290

|-

|

|-

|Sixth Year (S6)

|{{Cite web |title=Staff List 2020 |url=https://holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/our-school/staff-list-2020/ |access-date=2021-08-29 |website=Holyrood Secondary School |language=en-GB}}

|

|241

|}

The school has established a close partnership with Mary's Meals, which saw former deputy head, Tony Begley, resign from his position to take up a new role as the education co-ordinator of this non-profitable charity.{{cite web|title=Tony Begley Resigns from Current Position|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6052480|publisher=TES|access-date=28 January 2012}} The school has also been at the forefront of fundraising for Malawi as well as Mary's Meals which involves under 30 pupils travelling to areas close to Blantyre, Malawi to reconstruct, renovate and build schools.{{cite web|title=Holyrood Malawi Partnership|url=http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/PlainText/PlainText.aspx?SectionId=12daf21b-672b-4020-970c-8369a2cdff38|publisher=Holyrood Secondary|access-date=28 January 2012|archive-date=6 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206135145/http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/PlainText/PlainText.aspx?SectionId=12daf21b-672b-4020-970c-8369a2cdff38|url-status=dead}}

A team of 36 young people was chosen for 2013 after a successful five years of the project and planned to continue the work in Malawi, led by previous head teacher, Thomas McDonald.{{cite web|title=Malawi Partnership|url=http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/PlainText/PlainText.aspx?SectionId=12daf21b-672b-4020-970c-8369a2cdff38|publisher=Holyrood Secondary|access-date=28 January 2012|archive-date=6 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206135145/http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/PlainText/PlainText.aspx?SectionId=12daf21b-672b-4020-970c-8369a2cdff38|url-status=dead}} The school has so far raised in excess of £200,000 for Malawi.{{cite web|title=TES: This is where my heart lies|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6052480|publisher=TES|access-date=28 January 2012}}

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Malawi, and subsequently 2021 Malawi projects had to be cancelled.

The school has a roll of approximately 2,000 pupils and 150 teachers, making it one of the largest state comprehensive schools in Europe.{{cite web|title=Holyrood Secondary School Website: Homepage|url=http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/|access-date=28 January 2012}}

{{See also|Category:People educated at Holyrood Secondary School}}

{{Alumni|date=July 2011}}

Arts & media

• Frankie Boyle, comedian{{cite web|author=Andrew Johnson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/frankie-boyle-fierce-fearless-and-expletive-deleted-funny-1808992.html |title=Frankie Boyle: Fierce, fearless... and (expletive deleted) funny |work=The Independent|date=2008-12-31 |access-date=2013-03-07}}
• James Boyle, broadcaster: head of BBC Radio Scotland and controller of BBC Radio 4, chairman of the Scottish Arts Council{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20020825/ai_n12577744/ |title=bnet |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=2002-08-25 |access-date=2011-07-15}}
• Charlie Burchill, Scottish musician and composer, best known as the guitarist of Simple Minds
• Des Clarke (b. 1981), comedian
• Bob Crampsey, Scottish association football historian, author, broadcaster and teacher (including history teacher at Holyrood in the 1970s){{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/bob-crampsey-1.885616 |title=obituary HeraldScotland |publisher=Heraldscotland.com |date=2008-07-29 |access-date=2011-07-15}}
• Tony Curran, actor{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192889/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 |date=2014-08-25 |access-date=2014-08-25|website=IMDb |title=Tony Curran }}
• Fran Healy, Scottish singer, songwriter and musician, lead singer and lyricist of the band Travis{{cite web|url=http://www.musictory.com/music/Fran+Healy/Biography |title=musictory.com |publisher=musictory.com |date=1973-07-23 |access-date=2011-07-15}}
• Jim Kerr, Scottish singer-songwriter and the lead singer of the rock band Simple MindsFirst year school photos of Kerr and Burchill can be found here {{cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/tree/br1.htm |title=simpleminds.org |publisher=simpleminds.org |access-date=2011-07-15}}
• Johnny McElhone, musician and songwriter of Altered Images, Hipsway and Texas{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/JOHNNY+GUITAR%3B+EXCLUSIVE+CHART-TOPPING+SONGWRITER+IS+HONOURED+WITH...-a0153146555 |title=JOHNNY GUITAR; EXCLUSIVE CHART-TOPPING SONGWRITER IS HONOURED WITH NUMBER ONE AWARD Texas star's 25 years of hits. – Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=2011-07-15}}
• Joseph McFadden, actor[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sdlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v6YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4956,3033353&dq=joe+mcfadden+holyrood&hl=en Evening Times – Google News Archive Search]
• Brian McGee (b. 1959), musician
• James Meechan (b. 1930), artist

Business & finance

• Willie Haughey, businessman and philanthropist{{cite web |url=https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/12823415.amp/ |title=Famous ex-pupils pass on wisdom|work=Evening Times |date=26 March 2007|access-date=8 May 2019 }}
• Benny Higgins, banker

Politics

• Margaret Ferrier, MP (2015-2017 and 2019-2023 for Rutherglen and Hamilton West){{cite news | title = Margaret Ferrier opens up to the Reformer on politics, independence and Westminster | url = http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/rutherglens-new-mp-margaret-ferrier-5855903 | newspaper = Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer | first = Douglas | last = Dickie | date = 15 June 2015| access-date = 11 August 2017}}
• Jim Fitzpatrick,{{cite web|url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_156_99.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407182351/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_156_99.htm |url-status = dead|archive-date=2010-04-07 |title=www.hm_treasury-gov.uk |publisher=Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=2011-07-15}} Labour MP for Poplar and Canning Town since 1997, and former London Fire Brigade firefighter
• Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, lawyer, human rights activist and chair of the British Council[https://web.archive.org/web/20040409082300/http://www.educationukscotland.org/update/0204.pdf An organisation that promotes Scottish Universities]
• Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East since 2005{{Cite web |url=http://www.patmcfadden.com/about-me |title=ABOUT ME - Pat McFadden MP |access-date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609153005/http://www.patmcfadden.com/about-me |url-status=dead }}
• Bob McTaggart (1945–1989), Labour Party politician; Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Central

Sports

• Alan Brazil, former professional footballer with Ipswich Town, Detroit Express, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers; presents TalkSport radio breakfast show
• Paddy Crerand, former Scotland International footballer, clubs included Celtic and Manchester United
• Ethan Erhahon, St Mirren and Scotland U21 International footballer
• Charlie Gallagher,{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=95 |title=www.celticfc.net |publisher=www.celticfc.net |date=2010-11-03 |access-date=2011-07-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322163113/http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=95 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }} footballer
• Jim McCalliog, former Scotland international footballer
• Lee McConnell (b. 1978), athlete
• John McGeady (b. 1958), footballer
• Nathan Patterson (b. 2001), footballer[https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/malky-mackay-on-why-four-stone-wet-through-and-five-feet-high-rangers-kid-was-always-destined-to-be-a-star-3253370 Malky Mackay on why 'four stone wet through and five feet high' Rangers kid was always destined to be a star], Stephen Halliday, The Scotsman, 28 May 2021

The school chaplain is John Carroll.[https://holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Staff-List-2020-21.pdf Staff list 2020/21]

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.holyrood-sec.glasgow.sch.uk/ Official website of Holyrood R.C. Secondary]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150401230216/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/myschool/findaschool/schools/holyroodsecondaryschoolglasgowcity.asp Holyrood Secondary School's page on Parentzone]

{{Schools in Glasgow}}

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1936

Category:Catholic secondary schools in Glasgow

Category:Category B listed buildings in Glasgow

Category:Listed schools in Scotland

Category:1936 establishments in Scotland

Category:Youth football in Scotland

Category:Govanhill and Crosshill