Dollar Academy is a 5–18 private co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls in Scotland. The open campus occupies a 70-acre (28 ha) site in the centre of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, at the foot of the Ochil Hills. The school was founded in 1818 by Captain John McNab and Scottish architect William Henry Playfair was responsible for the design of the school building.[1]
History
Establishment
Dollar was founded in 1818 following a bequest by Captain John McNab or McNabb. He captained, owned and leased out many ships over the decades and it is known that at least four voyages transported black slaves to the West Indies in 1789–91,[2] less than twenty years before the Slave Trade Act 1807. In 2019, in order to understand the extent of John McNabb’s involvement in the slave trade, research was commissioned in collaboration with external advisors. The school had been "shamed" about this connection in 1998.[3] The school also teaches about McNabb's links to the slave trade in several subjects.[4] McNabb bequeathed part of his fortune – £65,000, equivalent to £7,330,606 in 2023 – to provide "a charity or school for the poor of the parish of Dollar where I was born".[5]
Architecture
William Playfair was commissioned to design the building. The interior of the Playfair Building was gutted by a fire in 1961, but Playfair's Greek-style outer facades remained intact. The interior was rebuilt on a plan based on central corridors with equal-sized classrooms on both sides. An extra (second) floor was concealed, increasing the total available space.[6] The school was re-opened in 1966 by former pupil Lord Heyworth, and the assembly hall was rebuilt after the fire. The school library is a "whispering gallery" because of its domed ceiling.
Many other buildings have been added to the school over time- such as the Dewar Building for science and the Maguire Building for art and physical education. And in 2016 the Westwater Building was added, named after Private George Philip Westwater, an FP killed in the First World War at Gallipoli. This building contains the Modern Languages department and two Economics classrooms.[7]
Recent history
Dollar Academy library prior to the 1961 fire
In 1961, a fire broke out at the school which destroyed the interior of the Playfair Building, with all classrooms and the school library containing 12,000 books being destroyed. Following the outbreak of the fire, the local community and school staff provided assistance for the rebuilding and restructuring of the school whilst teaching continued for pupils within the Prep School facilities as well as within Harviestoun Castle, local halls and even in private houses. The inside of the Playfair Building was reconstructed on three floors instead of the original two and finally re-opened in 1966.
During the 1970s, there was a change in legislation which ultimately resulted in the phasing out the "Direct Grant". The Central Regional Council decide to not continue with the long-standing agreement which was in place in regards to fees for Dollar Parish pupils which resulted in the school becoming an entirely independent school.[8]
In 2024, Dollar Academy was awarded The Sunday Times "Scottish Independent School of the Year".[1]
Overview
Coat of Arms
The school has its own coat of arms, which, in its present form, was devised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1918. The motifs which feature on the coat of arms are derived from the clan Campbell coat of arms, whilst Castle Campbell, dominant as part of both the town and the school, was the lowland seat of the earls and dukes of Argyll, chiefs of clan Campbell, from the 15th to the 19th century. The school crest features a ship motif which was lifted directly from the Campbell Coat of Arms and features as the centrepiece of the schools arms.
Additionally, the school crest features an open book which is a symbolisation of knowledge and the lamp of learning and features the school motto – Juventutis Veho Fortunas which translates to “I bear the fortunes of youth”.[1]
Enrolment and houses
Pupils attending a morning assembly
As of 2020, there are over 1,200 pupils at Dollar Academy,[9] making it the sixth largest independent school in Scotland. Day pupils are usually from the village of Dollar or the surrounding counties of Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire, Perth and Kinross, and Fife. The remaining pupils are boarders. Almost 50% of the boarding pupils are from overseas, with the rest being British nationals.[10]
There are currently four school houses:
Atholl
Mar
Stewart
Argyll
Traditions
Each year full colours and half colours are awarded to senior pupils for achievement in sporting or cultural pursuits. These awards merit piping on the school blazer (blue for cultural, white for sporting) and/or a distinctive blazer badge. Internationalists' Award ties are presented to pupils, prep, junior, and senior, who have represented their country in sporting or cultural activities.[11]
Pipe Band
The school has two main pipe bands. The "A" band won the Scottish Schools CCF Pipes and Drums competition every year from 2000 to 2012 and 2014 and 2015,[12][13] as well as winning the RSPBAWorld Pipe Band Championships in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. In 2013, the band was placed first at the last "Major" of the season, the Cowal Gathering. In 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 the band won the Scottish, British, United Kingdom, European, and World Championships,[14] leading to them being awarded the title "Champion of Champions". Additionally, the Novice A, or "B" band won the British, Scottish, and European Championships in 2015,[15] and was crowned "Champion of Champions".[16]
Rectors
The Revd Dr Andrew Mylne, first Rector of Dollar Academy, (1818–1850)
