Maxwelltown High School
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Maxwelltown High School
| image = Maxwelltown-High-Logo.gif
| caption = Crest of Maxwelltown High School
| coordinates = {{coord|55.085|-3.646|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| motto = Cognoscam (Know)
| established = 1971; 52 years ago
| type = Secondary School
| head_label = Headteacher
| address = Lochside Road
| city = Dumfries
| postcode = DG2 0EL
| closed = 2018; 5 years ago
| local_authority = Dumfries and Galloway Council
| gender = Mixed
| colours = {{color box|black}} Black
{{color box|#002366}} Royal Blue
}}
Maxwelltown High School was a state funded, six-year comprehensive secondary school in the Lochside area of Dumfries, Scotland. Founded in 1971,McLachlanh, Bruce (15 July 2012). [http://www.loreburne.co.uk/some_dumfries_facts.html "Some Dumfries Facts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810161751/http://loreburne.co.uk/some_dumfries_facts.html |date=10 August 2013 }}. A Visitors Guide To Dumfries. Retrieved 20 December 2012. Maxwelltown High School was the most recently founded secondary school in Dumfries and Galloway, before merging with other schools into North West Community Campus. It had 311 pupils as of August 2012.[http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=11536&p=0 Maxwelltown High School Handbook] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121224024704/http%3A//www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id%3D11536%26p%3D0 |date=24 December 2012 }}. Dumfries and Galloway Council. 2012. The roll of Maxwelltown High School had been steadily declining since 2002.[http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=10695&p=0 Number of Pupils in Primary and Secondary Schools in Dumfries and Galloway] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121223221323/http%3A//www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id%3D10695%26p%3D0 |date=23 December 2012 }}. Dumfries and Galloway Council. 2012.
Although attainment throughout the school was generally lower than the national averages for equivalent qualifications, this improved in later years and the school was known as being a leader in curriculum development.[http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/MaxwelltownHighSchooIns20080104_tcm4-697702.pdf Inspection Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006153835/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/MaxwelltownHighSchooIns20080104_tcm4-697702.pdf |date=6 October 2012 }}. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. 8 January 2008.
History
=Beginnings=
The school is the most recently founded High School operating in Dumfries and Galloway, opening in 1971 to subsidize the rapid expansion of Dumfries's population in the 1970s, particularly affordable council developments in the Lochside and Lincluden areas where the school is located. The school was designed by architect Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=410010 DSA Building/Design Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204343/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=410010 |date=3 March 2016 }}. Dictionary of Scottish Architects. 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2012. who was at the time chief architect of Dumfries County Council Architect and Master of Works Department responsible for all council developments in the area known at the time as Dumfries County (later incorporated into Dumfries and Galloway), it was Wilkie's last major architectural design before his death in 1972.[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=207031 DSA Architect Biography Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019153234/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=207031 |date=19 October 2015 }}. Dictionary of Scottish Architects. 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
The school is within the town border of Dumfries but it is not contained within the bounds of Dumfriesshire, it is instead in the historic burgh of Maxwelltown in neighbouring Kirkcudbrightshire from which the school inherits its name. In 1983, with the closing of Cargenbridge Secondary School, the school's catchment area grew to include Cargenbridge Primary School and Shawhead Primary School bringing the total number of catchment primary schools to 6 where it stands today.[http://79.170.44.78/maxwelltownhighschool-ref.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cluster-Transition-Policy.pdf Cluster Transition Policy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235621/http://79.170.44.78/maxwelltownhighschool-ref.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cluster-Transition-Policy.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}. Maxwelltown High School. December 2012.{{Cite web|title=Primary And Secondary Schools – Hansard|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1985-07-11/debates/12546ed8-090a-41b3-93a0-326eb5e635a9/PrimaryAndSecondarySchools|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806095025/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1985-07-11/debates/12546ed8-090a-41b3-93a0-326eb5e635a9/PrimaryAndSecondarySchools|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=2020-08-06|website=hansard.parliament.uk}}
=Recent history=
In recent years, the school has focused a lot of attention on social development and community integration particularly in the areas surrounding the school which have a reputation being socially problematic, having high rates of crime, antisocial behaviour, and problems with bullying inside the school.[http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3360&p=0 Consultation Draft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190049/http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3360&p=0 |date=14 July 2014 }}. Neighbourhood Renewal Masterplan for Dumfries and Galloway. Dumfries and Galloway Council. May 2006. The school tries to support pupils coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and is highly regarded for its learning support department which provides additional support to pupils with special educational and behavioural needs.
= Closure =
In the summer of 2018, the school closed its doors with all staff and pupils being transferred to the newly built North West Community Campus.{{Cite news |date=2019-10-09 |title=Calls for 'urgent action' over future of derelict Dumfries school |work=ITV News |url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2019-10-09/calls-for-urgent-action-over-future-of-derelict-dumfries-school |access-date=2023-10-01 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016145025/https://www.itv.com/news/border/2019-10-09/calls-for-urgent-action-over-future-of-derelict-dumfries-school/ |url-status=live }} The site was left derelict and was later fully demolished in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Carmichael |first=Tracy |date=2020-06-19 |title=Demolition gets back underway at a former Dumfries school building |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/demolition-gets-back-underway-former-22219395 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}
Notable former pupils
{{Category see also|People educated at Maxwelltown High School}}
- Ted McMinn, association footballer{{Cite web |url=http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 |title=Ted McMinn profile on "Queens legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website |access-date=17 January 2016 |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419190437/http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 |url-status=live }}
- Anne Neville, engineer{{cite web |title=Scotsman Obituaries: Professor Anne Neville OBE, peerless engineering researcher |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/scotsman-obituaries-professor-anne-neville-obe-peerless-engineering-researcher-3819202 |website=scotsman.com |access-date=7 September 2022 |language=en |date=26 August 2022}}
- Sheila Rowan, physicist and academic
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.maxwelltownhighschool.org Maxwelltown High School website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100609064344/http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/maxwelltownhighschooldumfriesgalloway.asp Maxwelltown's High School on Scottish Schools Online]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180514062633/http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/ Dumfries and Galloway Council]
Category:Secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway