This picture of a metalwork class is from January 1966. The photo is stamped ‘Daily Record’, but we haven’t been able to find an article in the paper.

The new school on Duddingston Road incorporated a purpose built Technical Block. This may have been the first part of the new school to be occupied: minutes of a meeting on 24th July 1963 record the architect being advised that the block was required at the start of 1964, so that temporary classrooms (huts) being used for technical subjects at Park Avenue could be redeployed to Duddingston Primary by Easter 1964 (Duddingston was only 6 years old and already the accommodation was inadequate for the school roll). The tower block and the rest of the new school would not be occupied until August.

The Technical Block contained workshops for wood- and metal-work and technical drawing. Facilities not available at the old school included motor maintenance.

A ‘Technical Club’ was started to develop projects outwith the school curriculum, but which nevertheless developed pupils’ skills.

By 1972 projects included building a go-kart, a canoe and an electronic quadratic solver (whatever that is). The biggest project was construction of an Austin Seven Special based on the racing cars of the twenties.

The car maintenance section was able to earn enough money to purchase a selection of specialist tuning equipment by servicing teachers’ cars(!)

With credit to Ian Small