Stromness Academy is a six-year comprehensive school serving the West Mainland of Orkney. We currently have about 350 pupils, which means that the school is large enough to provide all the main academic subjects, but small enough for it to be friendly and welcoming. The school began life in the 1870s in the centre of Stromness, and many generations of former pupils in all walks of life remember their days there with great affection. Over 25 years ago, we moved into a purpose-built new school on the outskirts of the town, which was officially opened on 11th September 1990. Subsequent extensions have added a new Music Department in 2008-09, and new Administration, Guidance and PE facilities, opened in October 2010. Our former building has remained a place of learning and research, particularly for the renewable industry and is being developed as the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus.

We also benefit from being designated a Community School, with extensive sporting and social facilities. In 2011, a new synthetic pitch (a shared facility with Stromness Primary School) was completed. The school has become a focus for all sorts of activity – every day of the week. It is rather more than just a school and we hope that Stromness Academy will continue to occupy a strong place in the affections of future generations of people who attend it.

Catchment Area

Our associated primary schools are Dounby, Evie, Firth, Stenness and Stromness, whilst pupils from North Walls Primary School are able to choose to attend either Stromness Academy or Kirkwall Grammar School.

Depending on their home address, pupils from some other primary schools may also be in our catchment area. Any parent/carer is entitled to make a placing request to the local authority if they would like their child to attend Stromness Academy; details of this process can be found here. If you are considering a placing request, we recommend that in the first instance you contact the Head Teacher.

Location

Stromness Academy is located on Mainland, the largest of the 17 inhabited islands that comprise the Orcadian archipelago which can be found 30 miles north of Dunnett Head, the most northerly point of mainland Scotland. Stromness is the second largest town in Orkney, after Kirkwall, the capital, and is located in the West Mainland.

The beautiful islands of Orkney have many diverse attractions. From globally significant archaeological sites, to a tradition of artistic interpretation, craftsmanship and design; from diverse wildlife in pure and serene surroundings, to scuba diving on historic wrecks; from superb local meats and cheeses, whisky, wines and beers, to almost 24 hours of daylight in midsummer; Orkney has something for everyone. Use this link to the Orkney Tourist Board website, www.visitorkney.com, to find out more.

Stromness is served by a frequent ferry service for passengers and vehicles from Scrabster near Thurso on the Scottish mainland. Timetables and fares can be found on the Northlink ferries website, www.northlinkferries.co.uk

There are also ferries operating to Kirkwall (www.northlinkferries.co.uk), St Margaret’s Hope (www.pentlandferries.co.uk) and Burwick (www.jogferry.co.uk). Flights to Kirkwall from Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh are operated by Loganair.

School Handbook

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Last Updated on 4th October 2022 by F Sinclair