Portobello High School
| Portobello High School | |
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| Portobello High School taken from Arthur's Seat.
Ope Et Consilio
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| Location | |
| Duddingston Road Edinburgh, Scotland EH15 1NF United Kingdom |
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| Coordinates | 55°56′54.82″N 3°7′26.95″W / 55.9485611°N 3.1241528°WCoordinates: 55°56′54.82″N 3°7′26.95″W / 55.9485611°N 3.1241528°W |
| Information | |
| School district | City of Edinburgh |
| Head Teacher | Peigi Macarthur |
| Enrollment | 1450 [1] |
| Houses | Abercorn, Brunstane, Crighton and Duddingston |
| Color(s) | Blue and yellow |
| Newspaper | 'Re: Portobello' |
| Information | 0131 669 2324 |
| Website | School web site |
Portobello High School is a large secondary school in Portobello in the east of Edinburgh. With 1450 pupils it is one of the largest state schools in Edinburgh and Scotland. At one time it was the largest school in Europe mentioned in The Guinness Book of Records as having 2,500 pupils. The building is also one of the largest buildings in Edinburgh. It is in a state of disrepair and is nominated for demolition. Portobello High School's current headteacher is Peigi MacArthur.
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[edit] Building
The building of Portobello High School is 8 floors high (not including the ground) with numerous extensions and additional annex buildings, including 2 gymnasiums, swimming pool, music department and 4 school house areas across an L-shaped 2 storey building, one half of which doubles as a dining area. A 2 storey temporary unit has also been erected in part of the school playground, housing 4 classrooms for maths.
[edit] EcoSchool
Portobello High School is considered an EcoSchool and has won three consecutive Green Flag awards in 2003, 2005 and 2007. They became the first school in Scotland to achieve all three green flags. After the introduction of a fourth, permanent green flag into the Eco-schools scheme, Portobello was one of the first schools to achieve the accolade. Portobello achieved its fifth green flag in March 2012, much to the Eco teams delight.
[edit] Notable alumni
Portobello RFC was originally founded as the rugby union club for ex-pupils of PHS.
- Gary Dunion, politician
- Gail Porter, TV presenter
- Roy Walker, TV Presenter
- Ewen Bremner, Actor
- Phil Cunningham, Musician
- John Robertson, Sportsman
- Ken Buchanan, Sportsman
[edit] Replacement school
In early 2006 City of Edinburgh Council engaged professional consultants to conduct a feasibility study on possible sites for the redevelopment of Portobello High School. This led to a statutory educational consultation, as well as a public consultation, on three possible options.[2]
Option A[3] proposed redeveloping the school on its existing site, augmented by the adjacent site of St John’s RC Primary School. Option B[4] proposed redeveloping school on part of the golf-course area of Portobello Park. Option C[5] proposed redeveloping school on part of the playing field area of Portobello Park.
The resulting report[6] of the consultation recommended option C and this was approved by the Council in December 2006.[7]
Protracted difficulties in identifying sufficient funding to progress all the schools intended for the next phase of redevelopment (the Wave 3 Schools) resulted in a prioritisation process in late 2008.[8] Portobello High School was identified as the most urgent priority,[9] and in December 2008 the City of Edinburgh Council committed £41M to the redevelopment of the school on the site identified by the 2006 consultation.[10]
As a result, a design team was appointed in early 2009[11] with a Planning Application for the new school made in 2010.
Planning permission was granted in early 2011 after an extensive pre-planning consultation programme. On 16 September 2011 Balfour Beatty were announced as the preferred choice to be awarded the contract to build the new school. Balfour Beatty have delayed signing the contract until legal action has been resolved relating to the place where the school will be built.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ PHS Website, Portobello High School, http://www.portobello.edin.sch.uk/, retrieved 6 December 2010
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/schools_report.pdf
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/phs_onsite.pdf
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/phs_golf.pdf
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/phs_p_park.pdf
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/council_rep.pdf
- ^ http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocId=92652
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/wave_3_update_oct_08.pdf
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocId=122797
- ^ http://www.porty.org.uk/pdf/phs_newsletter_2.pdf
- ^ "Balfour Beatty set for Portobello High School construction contract - News centre - City of Edinburgh Council". Edinburgh.gov.uk. 16 September 2011. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/643/balfour_beatty_set_for_portobello_high_school_construction_contract. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
