Kirkwall Grammar School in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom | School

Welcome to Kirkwall Grammar School, Kirkwall, Orkney, United Kingdom. The history of a sShool in Kirkwall goes back to about 1200 A.D., when Bishop Bjarni founded a Cathedral School where the clergy probably taught singing and Latin.  In 1764, £60 sterling was donated for repairing and rebuilding two public Schools. After workmen had inspected the School they reported that it would require a very large sum for repairing the old School. Magistrates and Council therefore came to a resolution of building two new Schools at the north side of St. Magnus Cathedral.

When, in 1824, the Town Council of Kirkwall appointed Mr. James Craig master of the Grammar School, they informed him that should the number of scholars exceed sixty, an assistant would be taken on. "

In 1872, the School is described as being "completely out of repair, the floor being broken up in more than one place. Windows in part, without glass, walls admitting damp. In the same year the Education Act led to the amalgamation of the Grammar School, Subscription School and Infant School under the name of Burgh School of Kirkwall (the name Kirkwall Grammar School was restored in the early part of the 20th Century). Within the next few years a new School was built on the site of these three Schools, with a new feature, the Tower, to provide a Board room and to house the School bell. The architect of this School was T. S. Peace.

The School also took on the partial role of Kirkwall College of Further Education. Mr Thomson continued as Rector until his retirement in 1990. He was succeeded by Mr Eric Sinclair, who was previously Depute Rector of Bridge of Don Academy, Aberdeen. KGS saw another major change in 1994 with the building of an extension to house new offices, a conference room, an Open Learning centre and accommodation for pupils from Glaitness Aurrida School. Mr Sinclair left in 1999 to work in Aberdeenshire. His place was taken by Mr Iain Ballantine, who had been teaching in KGS since 1991. In 2000 the new Orkney College building was opened and the School reverted to being used purely for secondary education. This meant more changes in accommodation.

Kirkwall Grammar School serves Kirkwall, the east mainland of Orkney and all of the North and South isles excluding Graemsay. The School population reflects the increasing diversity of the local society and economy. Agriculture and fishing have been supplemented by a growth in tourism and the arrival of the oil terminal at Flotta. The School enjoys good relations with local businesses, with many senior pupils taking advantage of the opportunity to take part in work experience. The School has exchange links with Schools in Norway, Germany and Italy.