Walkerburn School - 150 years and thriving

Walkerburn was founded in 1854 when Henry Ballantyne expanded his business in the textile industry. He wanted more room than his present mills would allow and so moved them to a site, ten miles from Galashiels, on the banks of the Caberston Burn. The village of Walkerburn grew and expanded to house the many mill workers and their families.

The population of the village continued to grow and by 1860 the residents wanted a school for their children. A site was secured for a nominal feu duty of one penny per annum and on September 7th 1861 the foundation stone was laid. The building was completed in 1862. A further classroom and a schoolmaster’s house were added to the building in 1866/67.

Since then the building has been added to and altered in various ways. Most recently, in 2000, the building was almost completely refurbished resulting in a bright and modern interior. Accommodation comprises three classrooms, a nursery unit, staff room, office, library/visiting specialist’s room, and a gym hall/dining room.

Within the grounds, there is a large tarred playground, with markings for games, and a bicycle shed, which has a lovely sea bed mural painted by the children. The playground has trees planted around the perimeter which are surrounded by beds of seasonal flowers and plants. These and the tubs are planted and cared for by the children. Adjacent is a wonderful wildlife garden which is now beginning to mature.

The school roll has varied greatly over the years. Records show that two years after opening, the roll was about 100 pupils and by the turn of the century it had more than doubled with around 250 pupils. Today the school roll today stands at 42 pupils (plus around 12 in the nursery).

The school has good links with the wider community of the village and provides a monthly report to Burning Issues, the village newsletter.  It works closely with the Parent Council. Parents are regarded as vital to the school, and are kept in touch with all that is going on through meetings, parent’s evenings and regular newsletters home.