Comely Park School


Comely Park School is a primary school in Woodlands, Falkirk, Scotland. It was founded in 1879 as a replacement for the local Charity School. In its early days it was also known as "Cochrane's Academy" after its first headmaster. The original Victorian school buildings were demolished in 1996, and Comely Park was the first school in Falkirk to be rebuilt, along with a Games Hall and a large astro turf pitch. It currently accommodates around 500 pupils.
It has a reputation of being the best school in the area, though this may be down to the relatively high socio-economic class of those in its catchment area — only 2.5% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared to 17.6% nationally — and there is significant competition for places. Classes are of average size and many pupils go on to private education at Dollar Academy, Beaconhurst School or a variety of Edinburgh / Glasgow public schools.
The school colours are maroon and white, which is reflected in the full uniform. A maroon blazer, grey trousers or shorts, a white shirt with a maroon/silver striped tie and maroon jumper is the official uniform, though most pupils now simply wear a white polo shirt and maroon jumper with grey trousers or skirts.
Notable former pupils include William St. Clair, a former senior civil servant, author and Research Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, Adam Stafford award winning Film Maker and Musician, former Formula 1 BAR team boss Craig Pollock, Falkirk football player Craig Sibbald, Sunderland FC Manager Jack Ross and professional basketball player Keith Bunyan who played 6 years with the British Basketball Leagues Scottish Rocks and in the commonwealth games in Australia with Scotland senior men.