Inverness Royal Academy
By Gilly Thomson
In 1972, Ian Thomson started his third teaching job as Head of Classics at Inverness Royal Academy (the I.R.A.). At the time it was the Grammar School for the Highlands, and it was proud of its history, providing education to the most able youngsters from the Highlands and Islands. There was a hostel for those children who lived too far away to travel daily. Ian at the age of 28 was one of the youngest teachers, and gained the nickname from pupils "Snazzy Joe" as he wore maroon coloured flared trousers!
Many of the teachers had grown up in Inverness and returned to teach there. Staff rooms were split into male and female, and some of the staff still wore gowns. A former teacher of Classics (Latin & Greek) who had retired shortly before Ian started working at the school, by the name of Jess Thomson, would regularly stop for a chat if met in town. She would share many stories of life in the old school during her long teaching career there. Inverness was a small Highland town in the seventies and you could be sure of meeting folk you knew whenever you went into town.
The school was well situated just at the top of Steven's Brae, above the East Gate before the new Eastgate Shopping centre was built. Ian continued to teach at the school when it moved to the new building out at Culduthel, in 1979. In spite of keeping it's name, it became a 'Comprehensive' in line with the other secondary schools.
The old building became part of the "College" for many years and fell into disrepair, until in recent years it has been converted into the WASP Creative Academy. The restoration has been well done, and the original assembly hall, which became the school library, has been converted into a very fine Cafe and exhibition space. It lives on!
Image provided by Am Baile/ Inverness Royal Academy
Photograph of Inverness Royal Academy, Midmills Road. Date unknown.
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