Peebles High School traces its roots back to 1464 with the appointment of a local schoolmaster, evolving through a 19th-century academy into a modern comprehensive campus. [1, 2]
Early Beginnings and 19th Century
- 1464: The earliest historical records show a “scule and sculmaster” operating in Peebles.
- Tweed Green: Later historical evidence notes an English School and a Grammar School established on Tweed Green.
- 1858: The immediate institutional predecessor of the modern school was founded as Bonnington Park Academy, a private school for boys. A private girls’ school, St Leonards, also operated around this time in the Parish Church Manse.
- 1873–1876: Local school rolls grew to over 500 children. In 1876, the institution became a designated “Higher Class School” (one of only 20 in Scotland at the time) and began enrolling young women.
20th Century and Expansion
- Twentieth Century Growth: The school expanded through various additions over the decades, including modular huts and the later Millennium Wing.
- Comprehensive Status: It grew into a modern comprehensive school serving roughly 1,300 pupils aged 11–18 from across the Tweeddale area.
Recent Era, Fire, and New Campus
- Transition and New Build: Following a major fire incident and aging facilities, a multi-year project led by BAM Construction and Hub South East Scotland built a new, sustainable campus.
- October 2025: Former pupils and community members gathered for a final weekend farewell event before closing the historic old building.
- Early 2026: The new, future-ready Peebles High School campus officially opened to students and staff.
