Rothesay Joint Campus School


(Rothesay Academy, Rothesay Primary School)

Rothesay Joint Campus School
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Rothesay Joint Campus School

A modern educational building which serves the Isle of Bute, the Joint Campus School is located at Townhead on the southwestern edge of Rothesay, overlooking Kirk Dam. It provides primary, secondary and tertiary education on one site; namely Rothesay Primary School, which includes nursery provision, Rothesay Academy and a campus for Argyll College. Opened in 2007, this was a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme built by Barr Construction at a cost of £17 million. Built on the site of the former Rothesay Primary School (dating from 1976), the new building comprises two-storeys with white-rendered teaching blocks and blue brick communal accommodation featuring shallow-pitched roofs. The school was designed by Edinburgh-based JM Architects. This building was commissioned and is run by ABC Schools Ltd., a charitable company closely associated with Argyll & Bute Council.

There is a single Principal in charge of these non-denominational state primary and secondary schools, which share an Assembly Hall, physical education facilities and the dining area. There are 38 children in the nursery department, 231 pupils in the primary school, while the secondary school educates 335 pupils (2014). The secondary school is divided into three houses; namely Ettrick, Kames and Scalpsie. Physical education facilities include a large games hall, gymnasium, dance studio and fitness suite. Outside are grass and all-weather pitches, the latter being floodlit.

The history of the Academy dates back to 1867, when a school which was funded by Rothesay Town Council came together with a Free Church school set up following the Disruption of 1843. A new building opened in 1870, which was extended in 1910 and altered again in 1938. An annexe was constructed at the same time. The old building burned down in 1954 and a large new building was opened by Lord Robert Crichton-Stuart in 1959. This building accommodated 700 pupils from primary age to 18. Its motto is Fortiter at Suaviter (bravely but politely) was devised in 1907. The coming of the 'comprehensive' system led to a separate primary school. The former Academy building now lies abandoned in the town centre.

Argyll College is a constituent part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. It offers certificate and diploma-level full-time courses in administration, child care, construction, hairdressing, information technology, land-based studies and office skills, together with a range of part-time courses.


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