The High School of Dundee, informally Dundee High School (HSD or DHS), is one of Scotland's independent schools, and the only private school in Dundee.
| High School of Dundee | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent primary and secondary |
| Motto | Prestante Domino "Under the leadership of God" |
| Established | c. 1220 |
| Rector | Michael Duncan |
| Grades | P1–S6 |
| Number of students | 1,100 (approx) |
| Website | www.highschoolofdundee.co.uk |
It has its origins in the Grammar School of Dundee founded by the abbot and monks of Lindores Abbey after they were granted a charter by Gilbert, Bishop of Brechin, in the early 1220s to "plant schools wherever they please in the burgh". their rights were confirmed by a Papal Bull conferred by Pope Gregory IX on 14th February 1239. It is from this Bull that the School's Latin motto "Prestante Domino", translated as "Under the Leadership of God", is taken.
Early scholars included William Wallace, Scottish patriot, and Guardian of Scotland during the Wars of Independence; Hector Boece, historian and first Principal of the University of Aberdeen; and James, John and Robert Wedderburn, authors of The Gude and Godlie Ballatis, one of the most important literary works of the Scots Reformation. The School itself was the earliest Reformed school in Scotland, having adopted the new religion in 1554.
The Grammar School merged with two other schools, the English School, founded by the burgh council in 1702, and the Dundee Academy, founded in 1785 also by the burgh, to form the Dundee Public Seminaries in 1834. This moved into an ugly neo-classical building by the architect George Angus, designed as part of the urban improvements in Dundee. In 1859, a Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria changed the name of the school to the High School of Dundee.
Currently under the Rectorship of Michael Duncan, the school has 1100 pupils.
Buildings and Playing Grounds
The High School of Dundee is split into seven buildings, the Margaret Harris Building (previously the Girls School), Main Building (previously the Boys School), Robert Fergusson Building, Trinity Meadowside, Bonar House, Baxter House,The Lodge and the addition of the new space-rocket-complex making the High School just that little bit more modern.There also two main playing grounds, Dalnacraig and Mayfield in which sports such as hockey, tennis, rugby, football, cricket and athletics are played. The school also holds an annual sports day event at the Mayfield playing grounds in June where the four school houses compete against each other throughout the day. The Mayfield playing grounds are currently undergoing major construction and a new sports centre is already under way, with the opening date waiting to be announced.
Houses
The school has four houses which pupils are put into depending on their family history in the school. The four houses are Lindores, Wallace, Aystree and Airlie which are all named after a person(s) or place. The Junior School get the opportunity to gain house points during classtime and the senior school gain housepoints through competitions and through the results collected from sports day. At the end of every school year all the points are added together and the house saucer is awarded to the winning house. The winning house ussually receive complementary passes to famous theme parks (last year Disney Land was on the cards!)...that Micky and the Gang!