Teacher and Pupils of Collieston School in 1913.

Collieston School was opened in 1877.  The first Head Teacher was Miss Mary Ganson whose appointment was recorded in ‘The Sentinel’ on 7th March of that year.

‘We understand that Miss Mary C Ganson, who was recently appointed by the School Board of Slains to the charge of the new Colliston (sic) Infant School, has passed first class at the Government examination. Miss Ganson completed her curriculum at the Church of Scotland Training College, Aberdeen, in December last.’

At the end of the 19th century sending children to school on a regular basis was not always a priority for the local fishing families, especially when the fishing season was in full swing and most children were required to help at home. For example this entry is included in the school log for 4th January 1884. 

 “…Attendance still more reduced this week.  Children are required at home owing to the large quantities of fish that are being caught.”

From June 1894, when there were 80 children on the school roll, to October 1899, the Head Teacher was Mrs Isabella Kemp, whose entry in the Collieston School Log for Friday 19th October 1894 reads:

‘Very good attendance this week. A holiday being given out on Wednesday, it being day of laying of the foundation stone of New Harbour by Lady Gordon Cathcart. Other work as usual.’

In the early years of the 20th century the school roll was dramatically affected by the decline of the fishing industry in Collieston.  Many of the fishing families left the village to work in Torry, with the result that the school closed in May 1922 and the few remaining pupils had to travel to Slains School to receive their education.  However, by 1932 the school roll had once more increased and, due to overcrowding at Slains, Collieston School was reopened. Unfortunately this proved to be a relatively short-term reprieve for the school and it closed as a teaching establishment on 1st July 1949. The last Head Teacher was Miss Gladys Robertson.

The building is now used as the Collieston Community Centre.

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