Lenzie Academy is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school located in Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The catchment area covers Lenzie, Auchinloch and the southern parts of Kirkintilloch.
Contents
History
In 2001, the suicide of Nicola Ann Raphael, a pupil at Lenzie Academy, was covered by the press.
In June 2020, East Dunbartonshire Council investigated a tweet from the school's physics department social media account that criticised taking the knee. Amy Callaghan said she had contacted the council and headteacher about the post.
Governance
The school is managed by the senior management team, composed of the Head Teacher and six Deputy Head Teachers, each in charge of a year group.
School structure
The most recently reported school roll is 1296, taught by a teaching staff of 101. The S1 intake cap is 240, based on an average annual first year intake of eight classes of approximately thirty pupils each, mostly coming from four associated primary schools, namely Auchinloch, Millersneuk, Lairdsland and Lenzie Meadow Primary. Approximately 40% of the total roll is from outside the catchment area, attending as placing requests. The S1 rolls have slightly reduced in recent years, and in early 2012, the reported 2012/2013 intake was 226 pupils, consisting of 125 from the zoned area and 101 through placing requests. The total school roll has been falling every year for the last 8 years, with the 2011/2012 figure being 25 pupils lower than the previous year's 1321 pupils.
Campus
The current red brick Academy building was built in 1960, and extensions have been added over the years.
The original school building dating from when the Academy was founded in 1886 has since served as Lenzie Primary school.
More than 110 years after opening, the school admitted its first physically disabled student in 1996, which meant the school had to install a lift and ramps to make the whole building accessible.
Awards and recognition
Academic rankings
In 2014, the school was ranked 13th in STV's league table of Scottish state schools.
This builds upon the 19th position achieved in 2013 and the 16th position achieved in 2012 based on the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more Highers at bands A-C.
Notable alumni
Moira Anderson (born 1938), singer
Andrew Baker (born 1965), High Court judge
Martin Creed (born 1968), Turner Prize-winning artist
Rona Dougall, Scotland Tonight presenter, broadcast journalist
Jane Duncan (1910–1976), author (known by her legal name of Elizabeth Jane Cameron while a pupil)
Andy Dunlop (born 1972), Travis guitarist
Alasdair Graham (1934–2016), Scottish concert pianist.
Andrew Henderson (born 1980), Scottish rugby union footballer.
Tom Johnston (1882–1965), Secretary of State for Scotland during the Second World War in Churchill's cabinet
Jimmy Mack (1934–2004), broadcaster
Gus MacPherson (born 1968), footballer.
Ian McCartney (born 1951), former MP, chairman of the Labour Party and member of Tony Blair's cabinet He left the school at the age of 15 "under a bit of a cloud" without any qualifications or school prizes.
Rhona McLeod (born 1966), news reader.
Nicola Raphael (1985–2001) – a pupil whose suicide and preceding bullying at the school led to press coverage and later legal action.
Michael Shea (1938–2009), Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II (1978–1987) He left the Academy after winning a scholarship to Gordonstoun at the age of 14.
Former headteachers
Lenzie Academy has had eleven head teachers. For 125 years until 2011, the head teacher was referred to as Rector.