Marr College
Colaiste Mhàrr
The old building of Marr College before the addition of a modern extension
Address
Dundonald Road

Troon
,
KA10 7AB

Scotland
Information
TypeCo-educational comprehensive secondary school
MottoHic patet ingeniis campus
Here lies a field open to the talents
Religious affiliation(s)Non-denominational
Establishedc. 1935
FounderCharles Kerr Marr
School districtSouth Ayrshire
Local authoritySouth Ayrshire Council
TrustMarr Trust (limited responsibility)[1]
Head TeacherGeorge Docherty[2]
Staff139 teaching and non-teaching
GenderNon-demonational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1046 As of August 2022
Capacity1348 permanent capacity
HousesDarley, Fullarton, Crosby, Portland, Lothian, Welbeck
Colour(s)  Purple
  Gold
Websitehttp://www.marr.sayr.sch.uk/

Marr College (Scottish Gaelic: Colaiste Mhàrr) is a co-educational secondary school in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is owned by the Marr Trust and is operated by South Ayrshire Council which was transferred to then Strathclyde Regional Council in 1975, with South Ayrshire Council being responsible for the school's educational provision.[3] The school was gifted to the town of Troon by Charles Kerr Marr.[4]

Throughout 2016-2017, it underwent extensive restoration, including a new building extending from the original school building.[5] In 2022, 1046 pupils attended Marr College.[6]

In 2023, Marr College was ranked as the 70th best-performing state school in Scotland, a drop from 68th in the 2022 rankings.[7] Despite this, Marr College outperformed other secondary schools in South Ayrshire and is regarded as the best-performing secondary school in South Ayrshire.[8]

History

Marr College was built and established using the money left by Charles Kerr Marr, a native of Troon who believed that people should be educated together, no matter their background and levels of wealth. The creation of Marr College has long been regarded as the model that paved the way for state comprehensive schools, which was created long before the establishment of state comprehensive schools became a political ambition.[4] Whilst a board of governors initially ran the school, it still provided free education in a traditional Scottish manner. Pupils from all areas of Troon attended the school despite their backgrounds.[4]

Marr College lost its anomalous direct-grant status in 1978 and became a Strathclyde Region run school. When Strathclyde was abolished in 1996, the newly formed South Ayrshire Council took over the responsibility of the school, delegating much responsibility to the school's Head Teacher.

Whilst much of the original building remains standing and intact, much of the building had fallen into a state of disrepair. Throughout 2016-2017, the school underwent a substantial renovation and new building blocks undertaken by South Ayrshire Council to improve the educational facilities and learning environments to bring the build-up to date with other newly built schools in the area and to improve educational outcomes for the pupils. The improved updates, estimated at a cost of £37 million (in 2017 terms), have seen new facilities added to the existing Marr College estate, such as a new sports hall, a new teaching wing and improved landscaping around the school estate. In July 2017, prior to renovation, the school roll was 921 pupils. After, with the new wing, capacity rose to 1350.[5]

Refurbishment and extension

The official opening of the new extension and modernisation of Marr College, November 2017

The condition of the Marr College building has been well known and a matter of concern to South Ayrshire Council. In 2001, Marr College was included on a list of schools within South Ayrshire for consideration to be included on the Public Private Partnership bid to South Ayrshire Council – a bid which would have seen an entirely new state-of-the-art school estate constructed. Due to community issues, such as disagreements on which proposal would represent the best value to the community, the bid could not proceed.[3] In 2008, Turner Townsend commissioned a report entitled Fit for Purpose, which highlighted a serious number of concerns regarding the condition of the current buildings that make up the Marr College campus.[3] Many members of the Troon community believed that the issues relating to the condition of the Marr College estate were due to negligence and neglect on South Ayrshire Council's part. In response, a council representative issued a statement that South Ayrshire Council, as far as their budget has allowed, has maintained the original Marr College building, which has seen several improvements, including upgraded roofing and new and more energy-efficient window replacements.[3]

Whilst a new Marr College campus has yet to be constructed, there have long been concerns from members of the Troon community and parents with children attending the school that the current school building is overcrowded. South Ayrshire Council acknowledge and agrees on this point but highlights that when South Ayrshire (then Strathclyde Regional Council) took over Marr College in 1975, the increase in pupil roll was addressed by implementing hut classrooms and extending parts of the school to meet the needs of the local community.[3]

On 29 November 2017, the £37 million new extension of Marr College was officially opened by John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. The work was completed as part of a £94 million pipeline of works delivered across South Ayrshire school estates.[9]

Uniform

The school uniform policy for Marr College is as follows:

The following items of clothing are deemed to be desirable modes of dress for learning:

  • Marr College blazer
  • White shirt and school tie
  • Black or grey trousers or skirt (of a reasonable length)
  • Black, flat shoes that have the toes covered. Trainers are not acceptable for everyday school wear. [a]

[a] Despite the uniform policy stating black shoes, many boys at Marr College opt to wear brown, smart brogue-type shoes

For Physical Education and Games, the minimum the following kit is required:

  • Shorts (dark)
  • Marr College PE T-Shirt (available to order from the school office)
  • Sports socks (white)
  • Trainers

Management team

The management team at Marr College consists of one head teacher, five deputy head teachers and several principal teachers of individual subjects and principal teachers of guidance. The management team is as follows:[2]

Head Teacher

  • George Docherty

Depute Head Teachers

  • R Anderson
  • G Hobson
  • G McCallum
  • N McLean
  • I Ward

Notable former pupils

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Head Teacher Report to Parent Council and Community Council" (pdf). Marr College. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Staff List". Marr College. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Review of Secondary Provision in Troon" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Celebrating six decades of the college without classes". The Herald. 9 January 1996. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Stephen Houston (30 January 2017). "Transformation at Troon's historical Marr College set to change school's culture with renovated classrooms and new wing". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "School Information Handbook Session 2022/23" (pdf). Marr College. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Borland, Ben (26 May 2023). "Full 2023 list of the best-performing high schools in Scotland". scottishdailyexpress. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Marr College remains the 'top ranked' local school for highers". Ayr Advertiser. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Landmark Marr College fit for the future after extensive modernisation". Ayrshire Daily News. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Paul Gilbride (12 March 2010). "Mike Russell barred by old school". Daily Express.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Wilson, Mike (14 December 2012). "Marr College old boy Tom Walsh makes Rangers debut". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Old boy Michael Russell back at Marr College". Scotsman. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
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