Rossie Through the Years

Rossie has a long and proud history of providing care to the most vulnerable children and young people in society.

Rossie dates back to 1857 when it opened its doors as a Reformatory, aiming to help young people become useful members of the community and to prevent reoffending.

Over the past 160 years, Rossie has evolved into a child-centred place of safety and wellbeing, with its services continuously developing to meet the needs of the young people who live with us. We strive to establish and maintain relationships with young people and their families, through our committed staff and underlying values.

Have a look at our timeline filled with images and milestones over the years.

1857

Colonel Macdonald, who owned the Rossie estate, donated land for a new Reformatory for 10 boys at Rossie, with the aim of ‘reclaiming’ young offenders.

It was one of 12 reformatory schools in Scotland and consisted of a dining hall, school, kitchen, teachers’ rooms, residential areas, baths, lavatories and a shoemaker’s shop. Nearby was a white walled shooting lodge occupied by the superintendent with rooms for visiting directors.

  • Rossie building in 1857
  • Rossie building in 1857

1860

The new MacDonald wing for up to 65 places was built from stones gathered together by Rossie boys from a quarry within its grounds.

1877

Rossie was described by the Dundee Courier and Angus as “a large, substantial and pleasant building looking forwards the sunny south, commanding a beautiful and extensive prospect of fields and woods.” They highlighted the purpose of the Reformatory stating that it was threefold – to keep young people away from a hostile home environment, to help them recover from and discourage criminal activity, and to provide them with training to become functional members of society.

1898

Rossie Reformatory’s Original Site Plan.

Rossie site map 1898

1933

Rossie became an ‘Approved School’ and was renamed ‘Rossie Farm School’. New legislation abolished the existing system of reformatory schools, bringing into place ‘Approved Schools’ to help care for children who had been neglected or were in trouble. By this time Rossie accommodated up to 70 boys aged between 14-18 years.

  • Rossie building and grounds 1933
  • Photograph of Rossie buildings 1933
  • Photography of Rossie staff 1933
  • Photograph of Inside Rossie buidlings 1933
  • Photograph of Inside Rossie buidlings 1933
  • Rossie interior 1933
  • Photograph of Inside Rossie buidlings 1933
  • Photograph of Inside Rossie buidlings 1933

1950s

Chief Constables expressed concerns after hearing about the number of runaways from Approved Schools. In response to this, the Scottish Office offered money to any school prepared to build and run a secure unit for the more unmanageable young people. In the first 100 years, 3000 boys had passed through the doors of Rossie.

  • Kayaks in Rossie
  • Photograph of Rossie Building 1950s-1
  • Photograph of Rossie Classroom 1950s-1
  • Photograph of Rossie Classroom 1950s-1

1960s

Rossie became the first secure unit in the UK, accommodating up to 25 boys. The beds you see here came from the SS Queen of Bermuda, after it was scrapped in 1966.

  • Photo of a boy doing Gymnastics at Rossie 1960s-4
  • Photo of Rossie building outside 1960
  • Photo of Rossie bedroom 1960
  • Boys at Rossie watching tv 1960
  • Photo of a Rossie classroom 1960s-5
  • Photo of Rossie building outside 1960
  • Rossie bedroom with posters of bands on the walls 1960s
  • Two boys in a Rossie classroom 1960
  • Two boys in a Rossie classroom 1960
  • Rossie out-buildings 1960s

1970s

New laws brought ‘Approved’ schools under the control of local authorities. As a result, Rossie became a ‘List D’ school.

  • Zip-lining at Rossie in 1970s-2
  • Rossie building in 1857
  • Photo Man on horse Rossie 1970s-3
  • Canoeing at Rossie 1970s-4
  • Rossie buildings 1970s-5
  • Rossie activities in the 1970s-1

1980s

Rossie started to admit girls, establishing Rossie as a mixed gender school. A new school reception area and game hall are built.

  • Rossie residents watching tv 1980s-1
  • Rossie buildings in thew 1980s-2
  • Rossie staff 1980s-3
  • Rossie Staff 1980s-4
  • Rossie staff 1980s-5
  • Rossie staff with badminton rackets 1980s-6
  • Rossie badminton hall 1980s-7

1990s

The original training school was demolished and in its place, a new education facility was established. This has enabled Rossie to deliver the full curriculum to its young people. 

  • Rossie buildings 1990s-1
  • Inside Rossie buildings 1990s-4
  • Rossie interior hallway
  • Rossie buildings 1990s-1
  • Inside Rossie buildings 1990s-4
  • Inside Rossie buildings 1990s-4
  • Inside Rossie buildings 1990s-4
  • Rossie interior hallway
  • Rossie classroom in the 1990s-9
  • Rossie classroom cooking area 1990s-10
  • Rossie classroom in the 1990s-11
  • Rossie technical classroom in the 1990s-11
  • Rossie music area 1990s-13
  • Rossie classroom 1990s-14
  • Rossie classroom 1990s-14
  • Rossie computer room 1990s-16
  • Rossie classroom 1990s-167
  • Rossie residents playing pool 1990s-18

2007

150th anniversary or providing care and education to vulnerable young people.

Rossie 150th anniversary stamp

2009

The old residential facility was demolished and Rossie opened a new residential building. This enabled the organisation to offer graduated ‘stepping stones’ of care and support in order to respond to the varied needs of the young people.

  • New Rossie site being built 2009-1
  • Rossie new site aerial view 2009
  • New Rossie site being built 2009-1
  • New Rossie site being built 2009-1
  • New Rossie site being built 2009-1
  • Rossie new site aerial view 2009
  • Rossie new building 2009-7
  • Rossie new building 2009
  • Rossie new building 2009

2016 Onwards

Rossie accumulates multiple national awards and accreditation for its work. Awards include the ‘Investors in People’ and ‘Investors in Young People’ Silver Awards, the ‘Nature of Scotland’ Award and the ‘Get Set Beacon School’ Award, among others. Most recently, we have been awarded two major Scotland Excel Awards, one for Workforce Development, and one for Innovation. Our school is also on the way to becoming a fully Rights Respecting School recently gaining UNICEF’s ‘Rights Respecting School’ Bronze Award. Our CEO was also awarded “Professional of the Year” 2018, by the Association of Scottish Business Women for her leadership of the organisation.

Click here for more information on our awards and accreditation.

  • Rossie gardens 2018
  • Rossie hairdressing salon and training area 2018
  • Rossie games area 2016
  • Rossie games area 2016
  • Inside Rossie pool table2016-1
  • Inside Rossie pool table2016-1
  • Rossie living area 2016
  • Rossie Women in Business award 2018
  • Rossie gardens 2018
  • Unicef UK rights respecting schools awards Bronze
  • Rossie staff collecting award
  • Rossie Silver Investors in People Award

Who we help

At the heart of this work is unconditional positive regard for each individual young person and a very strong commitment to fostering nurturing relationships 

– HMie Report 2018

Young people

We support our young people through all aspects of their stay, while giving them hope for the future. Find out more (takes you to the ‘Information for young people’ page) if you’re a young person looking for more information.

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Parents & Carers

We ensure parents and carers are involved in their child’s care plan as much as possible. Find out more (takes you to the ‘Information for Parents and Carers’ page) if you’re a parent or carer looking for more information.

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Partners

We work with our partners to provide a bespoke service to each of our young people. Find out more about our partners.

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Rossie Young People’s Trust

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