The School Buildings

A Brief History of the Buildings

Founded in 1849, Airdrie Academy exists today in its third incarnation. Airdrie Academy was first located on Cairnhill Road in a building that housed Alexandra Primary School. From its inception, Airdrie Academy was the senior secondary school in Airdrie: pupils who did not pass an exam on leaving primary school would go to the now defunct Airdrie High.

The original building has since been demolished to make way for housing. The Academy moved to its current site on South Commonhead Avenue in 1941. When it was built in the midst of World War II, the new building cost a little over £100,000 at the time. The opening of any new school is, by any standards a significant achievement. The opening of Airdrie Academy in 1941 in the middle of a war- torn Europe must rank as an achievement of superhuman proportions when you consider the widespread shortages of material which existed at that time. The school is indeed a worthy monument to the efforts of the local community, politicians educationists and officials of that time.

In the late 1960s Airdrie Academy became a full six-year comprehensive. This change nearly tripled the school roll to 1800 by 1976. To cope with the increase the South Commonhead Avenue site's existing 'A-Block' was expanded into a larger campus with specific buildings for Science and Technology and a fourth 'House Block' with six dining halls and three floors of modern classrooms.

Though enhanced and expanded over the years, the building fell into disrepair with students having to be taught in portable buildings during the early 2000s whilst asbestos was removed from the Science Block.

After 60 years of service, the building was reaching the end of its serviceable life and North Lanarkshire Council began exploring alternatives. As part of Education 2010, a new building was opened in October 2006 to replace the previous one, parts of which had been in use for almost 70 years. The current school roll is around 1050 pupils.

School buildings are more than just bricks and mortar; they are spaces where young minds develop and flourish. The condition and aesthetics of these buildings play a crucial role in shaping the behaviour and attitudes of students and staff alike. Join us in exploring stories relating to the school buildings from former staff and pupils.

Cathie Stewart – Pupil from 1948-1952

In this photograph we are sitting on the steps at the quadrangle. This was an open area between the cloisters which was used for sports. I have included a list of names. Some of the people are sadly no longer with us now. We all went on to different paths in life. The three girls in the front row all went on to become teachers.

Anne Macpherson– Pupil from 1954-1960

This first picture shows a group of girls in our common room which was the little room next to the assembly hall. It was small, draughty and dingy but it was our space.

This picture is from my S6 science class. I was the only girl in that class and was definitely Butcher Craig’s (the teacher) favourite!

Margaret Craig – Pupil from 1958-1964

We had religious services three times a week held in the beautiful domed assembly hall. We would stand to sing the hymns and then sit down on the floor to hear announcements. No seats, the students all sat on the floor. The girls and boys had separate playgrounds each on either side of the dome. 

The lunchroom was divided into two half hour long sittings. One week we would go early then the next late. We would buy a weekly dinner ticket on Monday. Eight to a table. The food was delicious too. If we did not play outside during lunch time, -we could go to our home room which was decided on our 'house'. I was in Faskine house. 

I will be forever grateful for the Ballroom and Scottish Country dancing lessons we had in P.E. I was a natural. The girls were walked along the quadrangle to the boy’s gym for lessons.

During gym class the girls would practice field hockey on the sports grounds behind the school. I remember being embarrassed wearing our 'navy blue knickers' and wondering if any boys in classes could see us out there. Ha! ha!

Before sports day, everyone during gym class, would practice running, long jump, high jump, hurdles etc. The ones who were the best were picked to participate in Sports Day. We all belonged to different 'houses' depending on your last name and would compete against each other houses. I remember one year at the end of sports day the public was invited to watch pupils from Airdrie Academy Scottish Country Dancing all around the sports field. It was amazing. Hundreds of pupils were involved, and we had a great turn out. 

Colin Campbell – Pupil from 1960-1966

The building itself was clearly an architectural beauty with its assembly hall under a domed roof letting in lots of light. We used to have morning assemblies where we all stood as various notices were read out-no PA system in those days. The open quadrangle area was also something of a striking note with classes off it, and gyms at either end.

Jim Smillie – Pupil from 1963-1969

Classes were given ski lessons on the school playing fields during P.E by teacher Miss Shackles. This was possibly during the winter of 1963/64. My class missed out as snow had gone by the time our P. E. class came round. You can see the rugby posts and neighboring houses in the background of the photos.

Jane Aitken– Pupil from 1961-1965

This group photo is from school year 1963/64. It was taken on the roof of the old science block next to the greenhouse. There were lots of plants growing up there.

James Wilkinson, pupil 1964-1969

I remember the little pool in front of the library, it had trout in it. You could sit outside on the benches. It was lovely.

Fiona Stewart former pupil 1966-1972

Miss Henderson or ‘Lollylegs’ taught domestic science. Her nickname was given because she was tall and thin. She was the rector’s sister. She had a wee dog called Jet. The dog would jump up on the tables when we were cooking. She taught in the hut next to Claude’s music classroom. She used to tower over me when I scrubbed cooking pans in the sink. She scared me!

Jim Smillie Geography teacher 1973-1986

I started teaching in August 1973. There was another new start in the Geography Department. Since I was a former pupil, I wouldn't have a permanent room as I knew my way about the school. However, the other new start decided teaching wasn't for him and left. So, Room A22 became my base in my first year. No. 1 on photo.

When Woodhall House was set up, the new PT Guidance John Dickson was also a geography teacher. The decision was made to give him Room A22 as the nearby old science storeroom would become the Woodhall House office. So for session 1974/75 I would be teaching in a hut on the edge of the school grounds. Room X14. No. 2 on photo.

With the building of the House Block which opened at the start of the 1975/76 session I was based in Room H3/10, on the top floor overlooking the playing fields. No. 3 on photo.

Archie Fallow: Cleddans Housemaster

There were six Houses and at lunch times daily each would open its own tuck shop run by the prefects. There would be table tennis and 'pool competitions, even the odd lunch-time disco. I oversaw Cleddans House, on the first floor of the House Block, and Mr. Fletcher was in charge of Glentore, on the second floor. One day in particular I thought the building was going to collapse - my ceiling was heaving at least 6 inches. I charged upstairs to find Glentore having a disco and about 200 weans, all in time, stomping out The Hucklebuck`', led, I may add, by Mr. Rodger (Maths). This photo shows the Cleddans common room in 1984.

Innes Alexander- English teacher 1974-1982

Those were the days- classes of 40. Trying to teach English as a newly qualified teacher in a science lab when half the class had their backs to you. Part time education for 4th years and 5th year Christmas leavers following the raising of the school leaving age (Rosla) with no additional materials available. Happy days though!

Stephen McCabe- pupil from 1977-1983

In 1977 Airdrie Academy had six ‘houses’ for pupils for the purpose of registration classes and ‘pastoral’ care. Which house you were put in was determined by where the first letter of your family name came in the alphabet. As mine began with an M, it had the be Monklands House for me. The house block had three main floors with two houses on each floor – one on the east side of the central stairwell, the other on the west side. Each house consisted of an L-shaped corridor. On one side as you came in there were toilets followed by a line of classrooms. On the other side there was, firstly, the office of the ‘house master’ and his deputy (the housemasters were all men in 1977) then the prefects’ room, then a common room and finally a dining room. Each house had its own dining room. Between the houses, off the central stairwell, there were other rooms with a variety of purpose. For example, on one floor there was a language lab where our speaking skills in French were put to the test by the teacher listening in unannounced whilst we all read a passage from a book with headphones on. The house block was a typical 1970s concrete building and sat directly behind the east wing of the original 1941 building. There were several other similar buildings behind the original school including a science block and a technical block, as well as a late 1940s dining room which had been commandeered by the PE department and was full of wooden gym benches and such like. In addition, there were some prefab wooden huts housing things like drama and music.

Iain Sloan pupil 1978-1984

This story relates to my broken (read smashed) nose.  House block Top floor. For some reason I was running (yep, shouldn’t have been, I know) and someone (One Kenneth Cupples) grabbed my bag (Rucanor bags were a thing at the time). And that spun me. I lost my feet and flew nose first in to the big thick chunk of pine that were the back rest of the benches that went around the walls of the stairwell. In movies when people get punched in the face the show everything going red.  That’s actually true, that’s what happened.  I was taken to Tom Dingwall who applied his mad Rugby skills and packed my nose to stop it bleeding everywhere.

John Bell teacher 1979-1986

There was a bronze bust of the first rector of Airdrie Academy, John Anderson at the entrance. I remember it being ‘stolen’ around the early eighties. I heard the 4GC2 boys in my class talking about it and passing the information to Pa Broon, doing the right thing as a responsible teacher. The next day, the bust was back in its usual place. I walked into the 4GC2 boys to find a rather large turf of grass sitting on my desktop. Those were the days!

Arthur Bannister former pupil 1979-1985

Science Technician 1991-2019

I remember 1600+ pupils in the 1980s. The school was jumping! Luckily, we had loads of huts. These were mostly used for Music, Drama, RE and Home Economics and Carrisbrook House.

All fourteen science labs were in use, plus the four lecture theatres were classrooms. The 6th years had a biology room upstairs and the 6th year chemistry labs were also used.

I loved the science lecture theatre, especially when I had to demo the Van de Graff generator or be a projectionist on the 16mm showing Disney science films. Jiminy Cricket still haunts me ‘You are a Human Animal’ song still bugs me!

This photo was taken after the refurbishment. We used to have big, padded fold down benches. If you came in the main science doors, across from tech, the blue double doors on your right was the lecture theatre S1. The glass doors led to the ground floor labs.

David Brown, technician 1974-2019

The science lecture hall was impressive and as a demo and lecture space, unbeatable. In the ‘new’ school there is nothing like it

Elspeth Dornan- former pupil 1980s

We had English classes in the science block- think it was just built then. We had Mrs Morrison then a droll Irishman called Mr Coull and it was in a small lecture theatre downstairs.

Robert McCallum- former pupil 1980s

Mr Griffiths took our lesson in the science lecture hall and instead of physics, we watched a Scotland game on the big screen. Best lesson ever!

Julie Shaw- former pupil 1989-1995

A lot of the lasting memories I have are from my sixth year at Airdrie Academy in the school years 1994-1995. The 6th Year common room was traditionally in the house block, but the space was stuffy, and a lot of the furniture and facilities had been wrecked by previous students. We asked our headteacher, Mr Smith, if we could clear out the area which I believe had previously been a library in the A block and had gardens directly outside. Thankfully he agreed and when our exams were over, and we started our 6th year timetable in the June of 1994 we all got together and tidied and cleaned up what ended up being our 6th year common room! Some of us even did some gardening to make it a bit nicer. It was a great place to hang out, study and catch up every day, although a wee bit cold at times. The main point is that it was ours!

In the run up to Christmas we had lunch together in the s6 common room with some of our teachers and then our dance in the main assembly hall. Looking back at these pictures, it doesn’t seem so long ago. We will pretend it’s not thirty years ago…

I used to love the school discos in the old dome assembly hall where we had our Christmas dance. When it came to 5th and 6th Year it was always both year groups together. It was a big event! You would spend time at your friend’s house getting ready. We would fill days beforehand talking about it and it was always a great chance to chat up boys or dance with your friends.

The Tuck Shop: Article from 1993 School Magazine

This became a vital source for pupil energy during the school day! The tuck shop was housed in a small storeroom at the end of one of the link corridors leading to the assembly hall, and since its opening the room was almost rebuilt to accommodate a better variety of stock.

At first the tuck shop opened only at lunchtime but after some customer pressure the hours were extended to include the interval. At school discos and Christmas dances the tuckshop did a roaring trade.

Prices in the tuck shop were lower than those in the ice-cream van and the local shop, yet a good profit was made. Stock was ordered on Friday night and delivered on Monday morning. Orders used to be taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well, but because of some break-ins orders were reduced to only once a week, to keep stock down at weekends.

Prefects helped to control the queues and to serve although some of them needed their calculators! It was not unusual for pupils to expect us to be able to change a £10 note first thing in the morning most amusing when all they want is a 10p packet of crisps. One of our best sellers must be ice-poles', even when the snow was inches deep and pupils were shivering with the cold; and they didn't just buy one at a time! It was sometimes as many as six!

We soon branched out and started selling school jumpers and sweatshirts (at lunchtime only). Not to be left out, when the school was involved in fund-raising, we do our bit by encouraging pupils to "Chuck Change For Charity" into our collecting bucket. We also collect empty cans for the can bank', raising even more money for charity.

Pupil 1990s

I remember making stained glass with Mr Thompson in Art classes. The studios were huge- bright and airy.

J. Cochrane pupil 1996-2002

One of my most vivid memories of my time there was in science. While sitting in Mr Scoular’s class, our class was invaded by Dr McAllister’s class, wielding droppers full of water. We got soaked!  We plotted out revenge, and set off to do the same, only to be met round the corner by Mr Blackwood (the pt chemistry!). To say he was less than impressed was an understatement!  We all got a roasting, and the teachers probably got it worse!

Miss Simpson- English teacher 2004- present

I remember coming for my interview as a newly qualified English teacher in 2004 and marvelling at the beauty of the administration corridors and offices behind the assembly hall. It gave quite the first impression! Going up the stairs to the department felt quite special, as if you were joining a long history of teachers who had taught there.

The assembly hall and administration offices were still in very good condition but the same can't be said for the rest. Contaminated water supply, mice infestation, broken windows and a leaky roof were features of my time there.

My first classroom in the English department was on the top floor right at the end , A32. It had tall windows, a raised front (great for me being 5ft 3) and built in cupboards. They had uncovered murals in the classrooms down our corridors. I made the room as bright and colourful as possible and had two happy years teaching a broad range of pupils.

The room was always either roasting hot or freezing cold- no in between! The huge radiators used to blast out heat, but this was countered by the numerous broken windows. I clearly remember teaching classes wearing an outdoor jacket, hat and gloves as it was snowing inside the room in the middle of winter. We had traditional blackboards and I often returned home caked in chalk dust.

I once innocently asked about the availability of digital technology and Mrs Morrison brought me in a long-armed stapler! I remember helping Ms Randall to staple down a section of the carpet in her room as it had become a real trip hazard. We couldn’t use the taps in A block because the water supply was contaminated. Some of the old stairwells had been blocked up and stank to high heaven!

By the time we were ready to move to the new building the excitement was tangible.

Arthur Bannister former pupil 1979-1985

Science Technician 1991-2019

When we left the old science block in 2006, we were still using twelve of the labs. Two were used for practical lessons. We used one small lecture theatre upstairs and the big one S1 downstairs, and the 6th year labs. We had 10 storage areas and our preparation room. This all had to fit into 10 labs, 3 stores and a prep room with chemical store off it in the new school. I think the new school was built for 1200 pupils, but every department was used to loads more space in the old school.

Anne McMillian pupil 2004-2010

The move to the new school was simultaneously exciting and terrifying. I remember running round the old buildings on our last day relishing the opportunity to add graffiti without getting in trouble! I added my name to the A block. I remember the tuck shop in the H block. I remember having to be careful which seat you sat on in case it ripped your tights because so many were chipped and broken.

Allan Middleton – former pupil

In 2000 I was given the opportunity to lead the construction team to build the new school, which I was extremely proud to do as this was my old school and was also attended by my daughters.

My first contact was to meet with the school liaison team which included Mr McCallum. I was surprised to see several old schoolteachers still present namely, Mr Lindsay, Mr Wilsdon, Mr Garvie and Mr Rogers.

The school had a few legacy items which were to be integrated into the new building so we set about reviewing these and how they could be incorporated. As the project developed, I suggested other elements.

The final elements were: The War Memorial. The first thought was this to be installed outside as part of a memorial garden, but agreement was that the marble would quickly deteriorate therefore a plan was developed to incorporate the memorial within the new assembly hall.

The Bust of John Anderson, Rector 1926 – 1948, was to be uplifted at the appropriate time and repositioned with the new school main entrance.

The Lectern, as with the bust it would be removed at the appropriate time and relocated to the new assembly hall.

The stain glass representations of the old school houses needed a bit more discussion as they were not in the best of condition as over the years they had sustained weather damage and one was completely missing. The answer came with the help of Rev Robbie Hamilton who had contact with a stain glass restorer, who then assisted with the planning to remove, refurbish, and reinstall the glass panels within the new school. A location within the main hall glazing was ideal.

The Main School Clock or clocks as there were faces on all sides of the chimney, some of which were in poor condition. The best face was chosen and was removed prior to the demolition phase. The metal work was refurbished and the new clock face installed within the assembly hall mounted on the face of the lift shaft wall. As the old mechanism was redundant a new electrical movement would be used to keep time.

The school clock master which was the clock used to keep all the clocks around the school at the same time was also made redundant due to modern upgrades. The clock was therefore refurbished and placed within the new school entrance. The stone school crest which was installed above the main door of the school was removed prior to demolition and repositioned at the new main entrance.

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