The original Academy was one of the Academies opened up in the golden age of Scottish enlightenment. John Newlands, who made his pile but never forgot his native town,left cash for the building and although his will was contested eventually it was built with the help of a few other local donations. The school was intended for all Bathgate bairns but by the time I attended pupils were bussed in from all around the South of the county. The plaque is yet to be seen in the Gym/Hall showing the names of the donating local worthies. Whitburn is represented by the lairds of Polkemmet. In the fifties when I attended the school the system consisted of Gold, Silver and Bronze streams with the Academy as Gold, Lindsay as Silver along with St Mary's. There was a primary school attached to the school in the West wing. The 'gold'stream majored in classics, maths and science with history and geography. No mechanical skills were taught at all, i.e. technical subjects of use in industry. As can be expected from the scheme it is not surprising that the appelation of 'snob' was applied to us who attended. The school was divided into houses, Balbardie,& Polkemmet are those I remember plus another two. Balbardie House is no more being a victim of the removal of nine feet of coal very close to the surface. As one coorespondent noticed the Academy is a direct result of the slave trade, hardly something to be proud of but then who is clean? The Academy building was in use as late as 1993 for the annual oration for the Newlands Procession was held in the hall. This is an old Bathgate custom and is in appreciation for Newlands and his gift to the town,. FP's of note give the oration although some worthies have been chosen from the other schools such as St Mary's. Opened mid-1960s. First of the new comprehensive schools that replaced the old schools previously used under the quali exams (11-plus to those who remember). The old Academy in Marjoribanks Street was closed in 1967 and the local pupils who were left joined those from the Lindsay High School to go to Boghall. The Lindsay was taken over by St Mary's next door on Edinburgh Road. New Academies appeared in Armadale, Blackburn (also St Kentigern's), Broxburn, Linlithgow and Whitburn amongst others as the system developed. Bathgate Technical College took over the old hutted classrooms at the old Academy and if memory serves me right, Balbardie Primary took over the main building. The College has just been rased to the ground as a new college has been opened in Livingston. The old school front is still there as it is listed but I don't know what will happen to it. When I do, so will you.
It's easy to find the people you're looking for at Bathgate Academy. There are 4228 members at Bathgate Academy
Schools Nearby Bathgate Academy:
- Whitburn Academy
- St Mary's Academy
- St Kentigern's Academy
- Blackburn Academy
- Lindsay High School
- St Mary's
- Whitburnsecondary
Members have been busy adding to Bathgate Academy:
Past Reunions At Bathgate Academy
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Fairway Hotel
Took place on 7th Mar 2009 for members who left in the years 1975 - 1977 -
School Reunion Night Out 1985
Took place on 1st May 2010 for members who left in the years 1989 - 1991 -
Eeek - It's the Big 50!!!
Took place on 5th Jun 2010 for members who left in the year 1977
