Paisley Grammar School
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Paisley Grammar School is situated on Glasgow Road in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Paisley Grammar School dates back from 1586.
Currently, Paisley Grammar School is under the leadership of its first female Head Teacher, Ms. Caroline Amos, who took up the top job of the school on 9th January 2006.
Paisley Grammar School has always been highly regarded across Renfrewshire. The school promotes high standards in academic, cultural and community endeavour.
In 1988 when threatened with imminent closure by Strathclyde Regional Council, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher intervened personally to ensure the survival of the historic and popular school. The law was changed so that local councils could no longer close schools which were more than 80% full without approval by the Secretary of State for Scotland. Soon after the council was forced to drop its plans and, in an ironic twist, the same government abolished Strathclyde Regional Council just a few years later.
Paisley Grammar is situated on Glasgow Road, Paisley, West Scotland.
Paisley Grammar was opened up in 1589 after James V suggested that this would be a good idea. The school started of as a private school and was fee paying, the school got a very good name for high grades and for well brought up students, the school became comprehensive in August 1985, after that, many rebellious pupils have been submitted to the school, have caused disruption in classes and have had councillors see to their bad behaviour.
Paisley Grammar is a red sand stone building and has a new extension of the school built in white sand stone, this part of the building, is quite modern (constructed in 2002), includes a large games hall and fitness suite. In the new assembaly hall, which was erected in 1974, many plays and concerts have been held. Every year, these wonderful concerts take place just before Christmas and summer time and get a terrific responce from the audiance, at the end of these concerts, everyone who takes part in the concert preforms a finale and is usually very lively and has everyone moving.
Also, just before the Christmas break, there is usually a talent show, which has many great(!) acts. At this event, it is traditional for people to make a fool of themselves and have everyone up on their feet and cheering them on, while they completely destroy their dignity.
A report from the 2006 Grammarian says;
They said it could never be done. They thought it was impossible. But we, the fantastically amazing ASDAN class of 2005/6, managed it ... for the first time in living memory, the Paisley Grammar School Talent Show was FULLY CLOTHED!!!
Not only this, but it was to be said that a renewal of the cliched "Our Talent Show was the best the school has ever seen" is needed here because, let's face it, it really WAS the best the school had ever seen, even if we do say so ourselves. So what made this year's show so wonderful.'
[edit] Rectors
There have been many Rectors of this prestigious school over its history, most recently, John Clarke OBE (1937 - 1956), Ninian A. Jamieson (1956 - 1966), Robert Y. Corbett (1966 - 1988), Hugh H Nisbet (1988 - 1995) and John C Pears (1995 - 2006). Hugh Nisbet is also a former pupil of the school. John Pears and Hugh Nisbet are the only two current living former Rectors of the school.
In a break from tradition, the current head of the school Ms. Caroline Amos, took the title of 'Head Teacher' in place of the usual 'Rector'. Since her installation, Ms. Amos has been extremely unpopular with both staff and pupils. She has sacked two loved and respected members of the school community: Mr. Haggerty, who ran the popular Exchange with Bünde, in Germany and Mrs. Morrison, treasurer of the PTA. With any luck the pupils and staff of PGS will soon seen the back of Ms. Amos.
There have been suggestions that the school motto should be changed from 'Disce Puer Aut Abi' to 'Amos Diligo Boaby'
Notable former pupils Notable former pupils include:
The current Doctor Who, David Tennant (formerly David MacDonald) Journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil Jacqui Lait MP Colin Campbell MSP Kenyon Wright Fred Goodwin – CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland John Macquarrie sometime Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford, and Canon Residentiary, Christ Church, Oxford
