Pupils at Paisley Grammar School have marked their final day in the school’s current building, ending an important chapter in the life of one of Paisley’s most historic schools.
For generations, the school has been at the heart of the community, providing a place of learning, friendship and opportunity for thousands of young people. As the doors prepare to close, pupils, staff and former pupils are reflecting on the many memories created within its walls.
To mark the occasion, pupils celebrated their final day on Friday with a range of activities and festivities, including inflatables and games, a Paisley Grammar splash zone, silent disco, ice cream van and other end-of-term celebrations, helping pupils create one final set of memories in the school before the move. Teachers finish on Tuesday as final preparations for the move to the new school complete.
The final weeks have seen a strong response from the community, with farewell visits on Monday 1 June, Saturday 6 June and Thursday 18 June all fully booked. These events have given former pupils, teachers, staff and families the opportunity to return and say goodbye to a building that has meant so much to so many.
Paisley Grammar School has long held a special place in the lives of many former pupils, known as “Grammarians”, including well-known names such as actor David Tennant and journalist Andrew Neil, reflecting the school’s long history and impact across generations.
Janice Levens, Head Teacher, Paisley Grammar School, said:
Friday was a very special and emotional day for our school community. This building has been part of so many lives over the years, and it holds a great deal of history and pride.
While it is difficult to say goodbye, we are also looking forward with excitement to the opportunities our new school will bring for our pupils and staff.
Grace Verity, (S6) Paisley Grammar School pupil, said:
It’s sad to be leaving the school because there are so many memories here, but we’re really excited to move to the new building and take advantage of everything it will offer, making lots of new memories.
While the current building closes, the future of the school is firmly focused ahead. Pupils and staff will move to the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus in August, a modern, state-of-the-art facility located off Renfrew Road in Paisley, designed to support high-quality learning and provide enhanced opportunities for both the school and wider community. The campus will also become home to Renfrewshire's Music School, bringing together talented young musicians from across the area in purpose-built facilities that will support music education alongside the wider curriculum.
The new campus sits alongside significant investment in local infrastructure, including the new east–west road and junction improvements, delivered as part of the wider AMIDS South project. The investment will improve access to the school and surrounding area, while strengthening links between Paisley town centre, Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
Councillor Emma Rodden, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, said:
This is a significant moment for Paisley Grammar School and for the wider community. While we recognise the importance of the school’s history, we are also investing in its future.
The new campus will provide outstanding facilities that will benefit pupils, staff and the community for many years to come.
The move forms part of a wider programme of investment in schools across Renfrewshire to ensure learning environments continue to meet the needs of current and future generations. This includes work currently underway on the new Thistle Primary School in Dargavel Village, the redesign and expansion of Park Mains High School, and ongoing engagement around future school estate proposals in the Johnstone area and around a new site for Trinity High School.
The future of the current Paisley Grammar School building has also taken an important step forward. Renfrewshire Council has agreed Nixon as the preferred purchaser of the site, and the company has submitted plans to convert the historic core of the school into flats, helping preserve the iconic building for future generations. The more modern extensions would be demolished and replaced with new-build homes, subject to planning approval.
As the final bell rings in the current building, Paisley Grammar School now looks ahead to a new chapter, carrying forward its proud history, traditions and community spirit into a modern future.