The Royal Blind School is a specialist day and boarding school in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
, Scotland that was established in 1793 and run by the charity,
Royal Blind. The school caters for pupils aged 3 to 19 who are
blind or
partially sighted
Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment†...
, and has facilities for children of
nursery,
primary and
secondary age. Students attending the school come primarily from Scotland, but also from other parts of the United Kingdom.
The school was divided into two campuses, both situated in Edinburgh. These were located in Canaan Lane and Craigmillar Park. The Craigmillar Park campus is for pupils who are blind and partially sighted, while the Canaan Lane campus caters for students with multiple disabilities. In August 2014, the two campuses combined into one and all of the children now attend the Canaan Lane campus.
In March 1997, the school featured in a documentary for ITV as part of its ''
Network First
''Network First'' is a wide-ranging documentary strand broadcast on ITV in the U.K. from January 1994 to December 1997, and was a part replacement for First Tuesday.
Unlike other documentary series on ITV such as ''World in Action'', ''Network ...
'' strand. A follow up programme, ''Blind School Christmas Special'' was shown in December of that year.
History
Founded in 1793 the School formed from an amalgam of different Edinburgh institutions.
In 1825 it took on a residential element, caring for 25 blind women at a premises at 1 Hill Place. In 1876 the premises moved to a much larger, custom-built building, designed by
Charles Leadbetter, off Craigmillar Park in the south of the city, merging with the 1835 School for Blind Children. In 1929 the school and residential elements split, under the Chairmanship of
Rev Dr Thomas Burns, creating a solely residential element, the Thomas Burns Home, on Alfred Place. In 1946 Oswald House was purchased to supplement the residential care provision. In 1979 the home was extended to provide for male residents.
In 1991 a new home was opened on Canaan Lane and this was further supplemented in 1999 by Braeside House on Liberton Brae, aimed at the blind elderly and incorporating a sensory garden.
Notable alumni
*
Dennis Robertson, Scottish National Party MSP for Aberdeenshire West
*
Libby Clegg
Elizabeth Clegg, (born 24 March 1990) is a Scottish Paralympic sprinter who has represented both Scotland and Great Britain at international events. She represented Great Britain in the T12 100m and 200m at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, winning ...
, Paralympic sprinter
*
James Clegg (swimmer), Paralympic swimmer
See also
*
Exhall Grange School
Exhall Grange School is a special school located in Ash Green just outside Coventry in Warwickshire, England. The school meets the needs of children and young people age from 2 to 19 years with physical disability, visual impairment, complex me ...
*
Jordanstown Schools
Jordanstown Schools is a school for deaf children and children with visual impairments, including blindness. It is based in Jordanstown, north of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Despite Presbyterian and Anglican roots, it is now non-denominational.
...
*
New College Worcester
New College Worcester (or NCW; formerly RNIB New College) is an independent boarding and day school for students, aged 11–19, who are blind or partially sighted. It caters for around 80 students. It is located in the city of Worcester, Engla ...
References
External links
*
HistoryRoyal Blind Schoolat Scottish Council of Independent Schools
Educational institutions established in 1793
Secondary schools in Edinburgh
Primary schools in Edinburgh
Schools for the blind in the United Kingdom
Special schools in Scotland
1793 establishments in Scotland
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