Craigroyston Community High School

School in Edinburgh, Scotland

Craigroyston Community High School

Address

Pennywell Road

Edinburgh

EH4 4NL

Scotland

Coordinates| 55°58′24.8″N 3°15′13.71″W﻿ / ﻿55.973556°N 3.2538083°W﻿ / 55.973556; -3.2538083
Information
Established| 1963
Age| 11 to 18
Enrolment| 735
Houses| Original - Nealon, Williamson, MacDonald. Current - Bute, Arran, Mull
Colour(s)|
Blue, yellow, white and black
Website| craigroyston.wordpress.com

Craigroyston Community High School is a non-denominational community secondary school in Muirhouse, Edinburgh.

The current headteacher is Shelley McLaren.[1]

## History[edit]

Plans for Craigroyston High School were originally drawn up in 1959, by architects Mottram, Patrick & Dalgleish.[2] with construction commencing in 1960. The school was officially opened on 16 October 1963, by the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Duncan M. Weatherstone.[3] The school houses were named, Nealon, Williamson and MacDonald, after local councillors. The original Craigroyston High School was closed in the late 2000s, as part of the City of Edinburgh Council's Pennywell and Muirhouse area regeneration project.[4]

As an initial part of the regeneration project the new Craigroyston Community High School building was constructed at an adjacent site, further north along Pennywell Road, and was opened in 2010 by Sir Tom Farmer.[5] The original school building was extensively damaged by a fire on 22 July 2010,[6] and subsequently demolished.

Hugh MacKenzie was headteacher of Craigroyston High School from 1972 to 1993. MacKenzie was recognised as an innovative and radical educationalist, who played a key role in introducing comprehensive education in Edinburgh. Amongst many initiatives, he led the school to be formally recognised as a Community High School in 1985.[7] After retirement MacKenzie wrote a book about his time at the school, Craigroyston Days : The story of an educational revolution published in 1995.[8] MacKenzie died on 17 March 2020.[9]

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Sheila Begbie – Director of Domestic Rugby at the Scottish Rugby Union and former footballer[10]
* Gordon Strachan O.B.E - Football coach, manager and former player

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Secondary schools - Craigroyston Community High School". Edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
2. ^ "Craigroyston High School". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
3. ^ Jones, Denna (26 September 2009), Craigroyston High School, Muirhouse, retrieved 23 June 2022
4. ^ Council, The City of Edinburgh. "Pennywell and Muirhouse regeneration". The City of Edinburgh Council. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
5. ^ Jones, Gareth. "Top entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer opens Craigroyston High School". edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
6. ^ "Granton History: Craigroyston Community High School (Former)".
7. ^ "Obituary: Hugh MacKenzie, Scottish headteacher and innovative educationalist". scotsman.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
8. ^ "Success against the odds". Tes Magazine. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
9. ^ "Tributes paid to 'inspirational' former Craigroyston headteacher Hugh MacKenzie". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
10. ^ "Sheila Begbie crosses codes with confidence". scotsman.com. Retrieved 29 August 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Craigroyston Community High School

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