Dollar Academy

Establishment

Dollar Academy was founded in 1818 following a bequest by the Scottish sea captain, merchant and ship-owner John McNabb, who bequeathed £65,000 (equivalent to £5,478,398 in 2025) to provide "a charity or school for the poor of the parish of Dollar where I was born".^[2] Born in 1732 into a poor family of farmers, McNabb escaped from poverty through a career at sea, which eventually led him to own his own shipping company. Between 1789 and 1791, four ships owned by his company engaged in slaving voyages as part of the Atlantic slave trade.^[3][4] In 2019, the academy commissioned a research project in collaboration with external advisors to understand the extent of McNabb’s involvement in the slave trade. The school also teaches about McNabb's links to the slave trade in several subjects.^[5]

Architecture

William Playfair was commissioned to design the building. The interior of the Playfair Building was gutted by a fire in 1961, but Playfair's Greek-style outer facades remained intact. The interior was rebuilt on a plan based on central corridors with equal-sized classrooms on both sides. An extra (second) floor was concealed, increasing the total available space.^[6] The school was re-opened in 1966 by former pupil Lord Heyworth, and the assembly hall was rebuilt after the fire. The school library is a "whispering gallery" because of its domed ceiling.

Many other buildings have been added to the school over time- such as the Dewar Building for science and the Maguire Building for art and physical education. And in 2016 the Westwater Building was added, named after Private George Philip Westwater, an FP killed in the First World War at Gallipoli. This building contains the Modern Languages department and two Economics classrooms.^[7]

Recent history

In 1961, a fire broke out at the school which destroyed the interior of the Playfair Building, with all classrooms and the school library containing 12,000 books being destroyed. Following the outbreak of the fire, the local community and school staff provided assistance for the rebuilding and restructuring of the school whilst teaching continued for pupils within the Prep School facilities as well as within Harviestoun Castle, local halls and even in private houses. The inside of the Playfair Building was reconstructed on three floors instead of the original two and finally re-opened in 1966.

During the 1970s, there was a change in legislation which ultimately resulted in the phasing out the "Direct Grant". The Central Regional Council decide to not continue with the long-standing agreement which was in place in regards to fees for Dollar Parish pupils which resulted in the school becoming an entirely independent school.^[8]

In 2024, Dollar Academy was awarded The Sunday Times "Scottish Independent School of the Year".^[1]

Coat of arms

The school has its own coat of arms which, in its present form, was devised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1918. The motifs that feature on the coat of arms are derived from the clan Campbell coat of arms, whilst Castle Campbell, dominant as part of both the town and the school, was the lowland seat of the earls and dukes of Argyll, chiefs of clan Campbell, from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The ship motif was lifted directly from the Campbell arms and features as the centrepiece of the school's arms.

Additionally, the coat of arms features an open book (a symbol of knowledge) and the lamp of learning, and it includes the school's motto – Juventutis Veho Fortunas – which translates to “I bear the fortunes of youth”.^[1]

Enrolment and houses

As of 2020, there are over 1,200 pupils at Dollar Academy,^[9] making it the sixth largest independent school in Scotland. Day pupils are usually from the village of Dollar or the surrounding counties of Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire, Perth and Kinross, and Fife. The remaining pupils are boarders. Almost 50% of the boarding pupils are from overseas, with the rest being British nationals.^[10]

There are currently four school houses:

•   Atholl
•   Mar
•   Stewart
•   Argyll

Traditions

Each year full colours and half colours are awarded to senior pupils for achievement in sporting or cultural pursuits. These awards merit piping on the school blazer (blue for cultural, white for sporting) and/or a distinctive blazer badge. Internationalists' Award ties are presented to pupils, prep, junior, and senior, who have represented their country in sporting or cultural activities.^[11]

Pipe Band

The school has two main pipe bands. The "A" band won the Scottish Schools CCF Pipes and Drums competition every year from 2000 to 2012 and 2014 and 2015,^[12][13] as well as winning the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. In 2013, the band was placed first at the last "Major" of the season, the Cowal Gathering. In 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 the band won the Scottish, British, United Kingdom, European, and World Championships,^[14] leading to them being awarded the title "Champion of Champions". Additionally, the Novice A, or "B" band won the British, Scottish, and European Championships in 2015,^[15] and was crowned "Champion of Champions".^[16]

Rectors

• The Rev. Dr Andrew Mylne DD (1818–1850)
• The Rev. Dr Thomas Burbidge (1850–1851)
• The Dr John Milne LLD (1851–1868)
• The Rev. Dr William Barrack (1868–1878)
• George Thom (1878–1902)
• Charles Dougall (1902–1923)^[17]
• Hugh Martin (1923–1936)
• Harry Bell OBE (1936–1960)
• James Millar (1960–1962) – Acting Rector
• Graham Richardson (1962–1975)
• Ian Hendry (1975–1984)
• Lloyd Harrison (1984–1994)
• John Robertson (1994–2010)
• David Knapman (2010–2019)
• Ian Munro (current Rector)^[18]