1867
Albyn School was founded by Miss Harriet Warrack in 1867 as an all-girls school known as the Union Place Ladies School.
Our History
INTRODUCTION
Celebrating our legacy
Excerpts from Miss Oliver, Headmistress from 1920 to 1948, published in the 1949 Albyn School Magazine, echo down the generations and still ring true today.
“How often have I told you that the building is not the School?…the real School is built up of those of you still in it and those of you who have passed through it and gone to the larger sphere of the world beyond.
From the time your education begins you are building up knowledge, habits of mind and attitudes to work…To my mind, honour, kindness and courage are the cornerstones of character.
We have a very high record in Leaving Certificate results and this is very important, not merely because the Leaving Certificate makes it possible for you to go on to further training, but also because no certificate was ever got without honest hard work, self-sacrifice and self-discipline. It is the determination, grit, perseverance and conscientiousness that is built into your character as you move through the School that really matters.
Headmistress from 1920 to 1948
Our Timeline
1869
First record of Boarding School pupils (ref: George Esson 2015-2016 Albyn Review)
1886
The School relocated to 4- 6 Albyn Place and changed its name to the Albyn Place Ladies School.
1898
Albyn Former Pupil, Isabella Asher, was among the first group of women to be awarded a degree from the University of Aberdeen
1920
21 Queen's Road became the boarding house for Albyn Place School.
1925
The entire School joined the boarding house to occupy 19-23 Queen’s Road. The Queen’s Road buildings today still exemplify the original architecture of the 19th century merchants’ houses.
1959
We expanded our new premises to acquire No. 17 Queen’s Road to complete what is known today as Albyn School.
1967
For our Centenary celebration, our Former Pupils generously donated funds to build the Centenary Hall which remains the heart of Albyn School today.
1992
Our Science Labs were built at the back of our School grounds to accommodate the increased interest in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
2005
We became a co-educational school by opening our doors to boys in the Lower School.
2007
A few years later we built a brand new state of the art Lower School building consisting of three floors and 14 wonderfully bright classrooms that look out across Aberdeen.
2012
The four traditional Victorian villas were complemented by contemporary structural glazing which now forms the new light and welcoming entrance to the School. Later, the new Oliver Wing was opened by HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. The building comprises of 10 modern and spacious classrooms for teaching English, Mathematics and Information Technology.
2014
In December the School underwent major renovations which saw the conversion of an atrium into three floors which now accommodate the Wood Arts and Lecture Theatre, the Lower School Library and a comfortable study area.
2016
The Wood Foundation Engineering Science Centre opened to meet the needs of increasing numbers seeking careers in science, engineering and design.
2018
The School became home to the Aberdeen French School, Scotland’s only accredited French School, offering a unique hybrid curriculum for French-speaking pupils.
2021
Albyn School closes its boarding school permanently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023
A state-of-the-art Recording Studio and music practice rooms are built in the attic, fully equipped and sound proofed for professional recording.
Order your piece of history
In 2025/26 we're celebrating our 100 year anniversary of being located on Queen's Road and to mark the occasion have launched a special commemorative book titled 'A Century at Queen's Road.' This unique publication is told through the eyes of our former pupils and is due to be released in September 2025.
Albyn Today:
04 April ‘25
General, Former Pupils
Meet the Editor: A Century at Queen’s Road
06 November ‘24
General, Events, Former Pupils
