Oldmachar Academy

Oldmachar Academy is situated in Bridge of Don in the north of Aberdeen in an area of private housing. It is a six-year comprehensive, non-denominational school which opened to pupils in August 1982 (April 1983 on its present site). In 2004 it was ranked in the top 50 Secondary Schools in Scotland.

Oldmachar Academy
Address
Jesmond Drive Bridge of Don, Aberdeen , AB22 8UR Scotland
Information
Type	Secondary School
Motto	No fish we can't catch, No tower we can't climb, No river we can't cross
Established	August 1982 (1982-08)
Local authority	Aberdeen City Council
Staff	40+
Gender	Co-educational
Age	11 to 18
Capacity	1104[1]
Houses	Auchindoun, Crathes, Esslemont, Fyvie
Colour(s)	Purple, blue and silver
Website	Oldmachar Academy

Overview

The school consists of seven blocks built to form an irregular quadrangle, with playing fields to the north of the school. The school buildings have often been a target for vandals, with 140 incidents recorded between 2016 and 2019.^[2]

The school receives Primary 7 pupils from the 5 associated Primary schools in its 'Associate Schools Group'. These schools are:

• Danestone Primary School
• Forehill Primary School
• Glashieburn Primary School
• Greenbrae Primary School
• Middleton Park School

The current head teacher is Joanne Hesford, who took over in 2022 from Judith Mohammed.

The school has a capacity of 1,104 pupils. The school roll has gradually fallen over the years, with figures from Aberdeen City Council listing a roll of 852 in 2012, dropping to 656 in 2018, before being forecast to rise slightly in 2020.^[3]

The school has a tradition of promoting healthy eating among its pupils, including limiting the amount of fried food available in the canteen.^[4] The then-Rector Joseph Leiper took part in a Scotland-wide inquiry into healthy eating in schools in 2004.^[5] He was made an OBE for services to education in that year's New Year's Honours list.^[6]

Houses

As of 2009, there are seven classes in each year group (A to G) except S1 which has six classes. There are four school houses, each named after a local Scottish castle beginning with the letter of the six corresponding classes. "G" does not have its own house due to there not being enough pupils and the absence of a first year "G" class, so they are split into the other houses by year.

The houses are:

• Auchindoun (1A–6A)
• Crathes (1C–6C)
• Esslemont (1E–6E)
• Fyvie (1F–6F)

Head teachers

Name	Incumbency
Joanne Hesford	2022 - Present
Judith Mohammed	2014-2022
Derek Brown	2009–2014
James Dalgarno	2004–2009
Joseph Leiper	1984–2004
Campbell Westwood	1982-1984

Notable former pupils

• Scott Booth, footballer
• Neil Fachie, cyclist
• Norman Macleod, journalist and news presenter (attended Oldmachar for two years)
• Scott Michie, footballer
• Gavin Rae, footballer
• Dennis Wyness, footballer
• Michael Rose, footballer