Abandoned Fern School, Scotland

The sounds of the playground faded long ago; welcome to the Abandoned Fern School! This former primary school in located in Scotland. Derelict for over a decade, the glass-covered atrium at the heart of the school has undergone a metamorphosis. Eventually the damp Scottish climate has helped created a beautiful plan paradise, set against a backdrop of peeling paint and mossy walls.

I explored the wonderful Abandoned Fern School in 2022, on a little day trip to Scotland.

History of an abandoned Scottish school, filled with ferns

The school was built in late 19th century, serving as a primary school for 4-12 year old children. This is roughly equivalent to elementary schools in the USA, for any readers on the other side of the pond.

The building was constructed in response to the increasing population of the district in 1880s. The school quickly became a thriving centre of learning, and there here was competition for the now coveted teaching places. As a result of this the school was expanded in the 1920s and 1940s, to make more classroom space. The school continued to flourish during the 1950s and 60s. Ofsted lavished high praise for its commitment to education and successes in the classroom.

However, in the 1990s, government cuts began to reduce the school’s funding. Feeling the strain the overstretch teachers were unable to cope, grades fell and enrolment decline. Eventually the school closed in the mid-2000s, and the pupils were transferred to another site.

In the years since, the building has been left empty, with only silence (and the occasional click of a photographer’s camera shutter) filling the hallways. The buildings have fallen into a very sorry state, and the Abandoned Fern School evolved into a decaying plant-filled paradise. Interestingly, there are plans afoot to regenerate the area and this school may see use again.