The Glasgow Academy

The Glasgow Academy
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

The Glasgow Academy

One of the oldest schools in the city, Glasgow Academy dates from 1845. It was originally located at Elmbank Street in the City's West End, but moved to its present site at Kelvin Bridge on Great Western Road in 1877. This new building in yellow sandstone, with Greek detailing, allowed the roll to rise to 800, all boys. Other buildings were added in 1903 and 1946.

In 1991, the Academy joined with Westbourne School for Girls to become co-educational with a combined roll of 1000. The Atholl School in Milngavie was absorbed as a second preparatory school in 1999 and the Academy maintains sports grounds in Anniesland.

Notable former pupils include novelist and poet William Sharp (1855 - 1905), Archibald Corbett (Lord Rowallan, 1856 - 1933), playwright Osborne Henry Mavor (1888 - 1951), fearsome Director-General of the BBC John Reith (1889 - 1971), actor Iain Cuthbertson (1930 - 2009), television producer Sir Jeremy Isaacs (b. 1932), merchant banker Sir Angus Grossart (b. 1937), Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor (b. 1946) and father-and-son rugby internationalists John (b. 1957) and Johnnie Beattie (b. 1985).


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