Park Mains High School

{{Infobox school

| name = Park Mains High School

| image = Park Mains High School.jpeg

| caption = School building

| type = Public School

| streetaddress = Barrhill Road

| city = Erskine, Renfrewshire

| country = Scotland

| established = 1974

| coordinates = {{coord|55.9025|-4.4588|format=dms|type:landmark|display=title,inline}}

| enrollment = 1,500+

| head_teacher = Alan Dick

| executive_head_teacher =

| colors = Blue and black

| district = Renfrewshire Council

| website = http://www.parkmainshigh.renfrewshire.sch.uk/

}}

Park Mains High School is a secondary school in Erskine, Renfrewshire. It is one of the biggest schools in Scotland. As well as taking in students from the town it also enrolls them from the surrounding areas of Bishopton (including the new Dargavel Village{{Cite web|title=Dargavel Village - a new way of living in Bishopton|url=http://www.dargavelvillage.co.uk/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=www.dargavelvillage.co.uk}}), Inchinnan, and Langbank.

New school building (2012–present)

Renfrewshire Council granted a new multimillion-pound rebuild of the school. The new building was opened in August 2012 at a cost of £31M.{{cite web|url=http://www.clydewaterfront.com/our-journey/news-archive/2012/new-high-school-for-erskine |title=New high school for Erskine - Opening of £31m Park Mains High School |publisher=Clydewaterfront.com |date=5 September 2012 |accessdate=30 June 2014}} It was designed and planned by Holmes Miller. Construction was completed by Bam Construction. FES Ltd were the contractors for the electrical, mechanical, IT installations and fire and security systems.{{cite web|url=http://www.fes.ltd.uk/news-detail.php?id=43 |title=News |publisher=Fes.ltd.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-15}}{{cite web |url=http://www.renfrewshirechamber.com/documents/renfrewopenevening.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-06-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125614/http://www.renfrewshirechamber.com/documents/renfrewopenevening.pdf |archivedate=14 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }} The building offers a larger, brighter space for the pupils to feel in a social hub whilst still being in a controlled learning environment. One key feature of the school is the central "street area" with natural sunlight. The school's new sports complex has a multi-use games hall and gymnasium. The site of the old school building is now a £400,000 multi-use 3G sports pitch with running track. There are also hockey pitches and a rugby field.{{cite web|url=http://www.renfrewshireleisure.com/centre/erskinesc.asp |title=Erskine Community Sports Centre - Renfrewshire Leisure Limited |publisher=Renfrewshireleisure.com |date= |accessdate=4 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2011/06/29/414808-battle-for-pitches-won/ |title=Battle for pitches won | News |publisher=The Gazette |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=4 July 2014}} The school building has regularly featured in architectural publications. It has received award nominations for its design and construction.{{cite web|url=http://pinnaclearchitecture.com/30-most-amazing-high-school-campuses-in-the-world/ |title=The 30 Most Amazing High School Campuses in the World-Pinnacle Architecture |publisher=Pinnaclearchitecture.com |date=27 February 2014 |accessdate=30 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fes.ltd.uk/news-detail.php?id=43 |title=News |publisher=Fes.ltd.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-15}}

Guidance

Pupils are assigned to a guidance group in their first year at Park Mains. The guidance groups are named after some of the Scottish Isles. These are Skye, Arran, Bute and Mull. Pupils remain in these groups until their departure from the school.

Notable former pupils

Chris Aitken, former footballer, now assistant manager at East Kilbride FC{{cn|reason=no mention of this school on Aitken's page|date=August 2021}}
Stephen Aitken, Former footballer, now manager at East Kilbride thistle
Wendy Alexander, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Douglas Alexander, former Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary
Kenny Inglis, composer & music producer{{cn|reason=no mention of this school on Inglis's page|date=August 2021}}
James Laidlaw, William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge since 2016.
Keith Lasley, former footballer, now assistant manager at Motherwell FC
Peter Leven, former footballer, assistant manager at Kilmarnock FC
Derek Lilley, former footballer
Kirsty Mitchell, actress and former Miss Scotland
Brian O'Neil, former footballer{{cn|reason=no mention of this school on O'Neill's page|date=August 2021}}
Blair Spittal, footballer at Motherwell
Dougie Vipond, TV presenter & Deacon Blue drummer

Notable former teachers

Michael Shanks, politician{{Cite web|first=Stewart|last=Paterson|title=Meet Michael: the man who ran every single Glasgow street|date=5 January 2022|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19826603.meet-michael-man-ran-every-single-glasgow-street/|website=Glasgow Times|archive-date=1 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801192154/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19826603.meet-michael-man-ran-every-single-glasgow-street/|access-date=1 August 2023|url-status=live}}

References

External links

[http://www.parkmainshigh.renfrewshire.sch.uk/Park Mains High School Official Website]
[http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/parkmainshighschoolrenfrewshire.asp Park Mains High School @ Scottish Schools Online]

Category:Secondary schools in Renfrewshire

Category:Educational institutions established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in Scotland

Category:Erskine, Renfrewshire

Category:School buildings completed in 2012