Cults Academy is an Aberdeen City Council secondary school in Cults, Aberdeen, Scotland. It was the recipient of The Sunday Times Scottish State Secondary School of the Year Award 2008 because of its outstanding exam results that year, having been rated 3rd in 2005.[1][2] As of 2023, Cults Academy is the 6th best school in Scotland.[3] Based on pupil numbers, Cults Academy is the largest state school in Aberdeen. It was founded in 1967.
| Cults Academy | |
|---|---|
 Cults Academy Arms | |
| Address | |
 | |
Quarry Road , AB15 9TP Scotland | |
| Coordinates | 57°07′06″N 2°11′20″W / 57.118333°N 2.188889°W |
| Information | |
| Established | 1967 |
| Local authority | Aberdeen City Council |
| Head Teacher | Mr Ross Allan |
| Staff | 100 (approx) |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1,450 (approx) |
| Houses | Cairn, Devenick, Friarsfield, Ronan, Murtle, Blairs, Hillview |
| Colour(s) | Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Purple and Silver |
| Website | Cults Academy |
The old 1960s school building was replaced with a new building on the former site of its playing fields in 2009.[4]
Pupils
editApproximately 1300 attend the school each year (one of the largest school rolls in the Aberdeen area), between the ages of approximately 11 to 18. The majority have attended one of the four primary schools in the catchment area; Cults Primary School, Culter School, Lairhillock Primary and Milltimber Primary.[citation needed]
On 28 October 2015 Bailey Gwynne, a 16-year-old pupil, died after being stabbed at the school.[5]
Head Teachers
editHead Teachers who have led the school include:
| Name | Incumbency | |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Allan | 2023–Present | |
| David Barnett | 2019–2023 | |
| Anna Muirhead | 2004 - 2018 | |
| Graeme Traill | 1991–2003 | |
| Raymond Dunphy | 1975–1991 |
Houses
editPupils are split up into seven different houses each with their own Guidance teacher who offers help, support and takes Social Education classes. The seven houses are named after local areas and landmarks: Cairn, Devenick, Friarsfield, Ronan, Murtle, Blairs and Hillview.
Notable former pupils
edit- Darren Ferguson - Retired footballer, and current manager of Peterborough United. Son of Sir Alex Ferguson[6]
- Jason White - Scotland rugby union captain.[7]
- Callum McCaig - former Scottish National Party Member of Parliament[8]
- Shaun Maloney - Scotland international footballer.[6]
- Mitchel Megginson - Aberdeen football player.
- Juliet-Jane Horne - Former Miss Scotland, who finished 3rd in Miss World 2001.
- Calvin Goldspink - Former member of S Club 8.[6]
- Robbie Renwick - Swimming finalist (Men's 200m Freestyle & Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay) at the Beijing Olympics 2008, and won silver (Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay) for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games 2006.[9]
- Clark Robertson - Scottish footballer who plays for F.C. Ashdod
References
edit- ^ MacDonald, Stuart (2008). "'PC' council backs down on school award". The Times. London. Retrieved 9 November 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Times newspaper Scottish state schools league table" (PDF). The Times. London. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
- ^ Speirs, Kathleen (9 September 2023). "Full 2023 list of the best and worst-performing high schools in Scotland". Scottish Daily Express. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Two new secondary schools opened in Aberdeen". STV News. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "Pupil dies after school stabbing at Cults Academy". BBC News. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ a b c "Newspaper headlines: Aberdeen school stabbing, Cameron's EU exit warning and £21m Fifa refund call". BBC News. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "Secrets & Lives: Jason White". scotsman.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "Callum McCaig". The SNP. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "Robbie Renwick: I just swim for the love of it". Evening Express. Retrieved 14 January 2017.