St. Ambrose High School is a coeducational Roman Catholic secondary school located in the Townhead area of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The school serves pupils from ages 11 to 18 (S1 to S6) and operates under the local authority of North Lanarkshire Council.
History
The school opened in August 1961 and was originally located on Blair Road in Coatbridge. The current building, situated on Townhead Road, opened to pupils on 5 November 2012. The school has served the community of the north-west of Coatbridge and areas in the eastern fringes of Glasgow for over fifty years.
In 2019, health concerns were raised regarding "blue water" at the school site. North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire stated that there was no health or safety threat to pupils or staff. In 2021, during the COP26 climate conference, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti visited the school and planted a tree on the grounds.
Identity and Ethos
The school's motto is "In fide, spe et caritate discendi" (Learning in faith, hope, and love). It is a Roman Catholic-affiliated institution. As of the 2024–25 session, the school had a reported roll of approximately 1,464 to 1,534 pupils, with a middle-60% Scottish tariff score of 1,012, which is above the national average.
Notable Alumni
- Tom Boyd – professional footballer
- Greg and Pat Kane – musicians, members of the band Hue and Cry
- Malky Mackay – professional footballer, football coach, and manager
- Michelle McManus – singer
- Mark Millar – comic book writer
- Jamie Quinn – actor
- Mark Wilson – professional footballer and coach
Notable Staff
- John Cushley – professional footballer, later deputy head teacher at St. Ambrose High School
References
The school is documented in the Wikipedia article "St Ambrose High School," the North Lanarkshire Council school directory, and the school's official blog hosted on the Glow Scotland platform.
