Bathgate Academy is a mixed secondary school in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, also serving the nearby town of Blackburn.

Bathgate Academy
Address
Map
Edinburgh Road

, ,
EH48 1LF

Scotland
Coordinates55°53′51″N 3°36′48″W / 55.8974°N 3.6133°W / 55.8974; -3.6133
Information
TypeSecondary school
MottoLatin: Honos Habet Onus
Established1833
FounderJohn Newland
Local authorityWest Lothian Council
Head teacherEileen Paxton[1]
GenderMixed
Age range11–18
Enrolment965 (2019)[2]
Houses
  • Forth
  • Nevis
  • Lomond
Colour(s)Red, blue, yellow    
Websitewww.bathgateacademy.westlothian.org.uk

History

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Established by the will of John Newland (a Jamaican-plantation slave owner) in 1799,[3][4][5] the school was originally located on Marjoribanks Street;[6] its main building dates from 1833 and was designed by R & R Dickson.[7] In 1965, the Academy merged with Lindsay High School and moved fully to a new campus further east at Boghall two years later.[8] 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.[9]

 
Old Bathgate Academy

The original Academy building was taken over by West Lothian College (originally Bathgate Technological College) in the 1960s[10] 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,[11][12] the old Academy lay unused for several years in the early 21st century before being converted to apartments, forming the centrepiece of a development.[13][14]

Notable former pupils

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References

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  1. ^ "Welcome from Head Teacher". Bathgate Academy. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  2. ^ School Background, Bathgate Academy
  3. ^ The First Scots in Jamaica, Flag Up Scotland Jamaica
  4. ^ Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival changes name due to Newland's links to slavery, Daily Record, 10 June 2020
  5. ^ A Distant Connection – Newlands & Sugar in Jamaica in the 18th – 19th Centuries, Kerrie Anne Christian, Newlands Reaching Across The Waters
  6. ^ Bathgate, Marjoribanks Street, Bathgate Academy, Canmore
  7. ^ Bathgate Academy, Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  8. ^ Heritage, Bathgate Academy
  9. ^ Obituary: Ian MacGregor, Tam Dalyell, The Independent, 21 August 1996
  10. ^ Bathgate in old picture postcards, William F. Hendrie, ISBN 9789028831674, via European Library
  11. ^ West Lothian College celebrates 50th birthday, Daily Record, 21 February 2016
  12. ^ West Lothian College, Gazetteer for Scotland
  13. ^ Bathgate Academy, Miller developments, ZM Architecture
  14. ^ Check out the £145,000 bungalow tucked away inside this stunning A-listed West Lothian building, Edinburgh Live, 1 July 2019
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