Remember when... School's smell hasn't changed

BACK in the summer of 1959, the first pupils to be offered a place at the city's brand new Forrester High School made their way through its doors.

Built to help accommodate the large number of secondary scholars in Edinburgh – a result of the high birth rate of 1947/48 – the school took over an 18.5-acre site to the west of Broomhouse Road, showcasing the finest educational facilities of the time.

But it was not until 28 April, 1960 that local dignitaries, parents, teachers and pupils joined together to officially open the school, with the Right Honourable Lord Forrester of Corstorphine, Earl of Verulam, unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion as hymns were sung in the new assembly hall.

This week, to mark the 50th anniversary of the school, former pupils and staff packed into Forrester High to reminisce – not in the original building, but in a new, replacement school which was officially opened on the site in March by former pupil John Swinney MSP.

Forrester High was chosen as one of the schools to be replaced under Edinburgh City Council's 180 million rebuilding programme.

"We have considered this whole school year, 2009/10, to be our birthday year," explains headteacher Derek Curran.

"Before we moved to the new building, though, we held a gathering for former pupils in the old school which was fantastic.

"At the end, so many of them came over to me and said, 'Do you know – it even smells the same as it did when we were here'. Just the smell brought all the memories back for them."

It goes without question that Forrester High has played a huge part in so many people's lives and remains at the heart of its community – as it was intended when it was built.

Most of the first wave of pupils to attend the school lived in new housing near the site, while many more travelled in from Corstorphine.

When it first opened, the oldest pupils were just 15, but in the following years, courses were developed to allow pupils up to the age of 18 to be educated at the school – as well as take part in the many extra-curricular activities on offer, such as acting, music and outdoor pursuits.

Among those famous faces to have attended Forrester High is former Scotland footballer Graeme Souness, Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor and former Edinburgh West MP John Barrett.

"Forrester High has always been a community school," explains Mr Curran.

"And it's an inclusive school which has created a wealth of opportunities for a lot of people over the years. We continue to do that now, in the new building."