Financial award for Nithsdale students boosted for first time in 15 years
Increased support for Wallace Hall pupils heading to higher education
A financial award that helps young people from Nithsdale progress to university or college has been increased for the first time in 15 years.
The Ferguson Prize, given annually to Wallace Hall Academy pupils from the Upper Nithsdale area who are moving into higher education, has been raised from £400 to £500.
Administered by the school’s rector under the John Wallace Trust, it is designed to ease the financial burden of progressing to university or college.
The rise was approved by councillors at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s recent education, skills and community wellbeing committee — the first increase since 2011.
The prize forms part of the John Wallace Trust, a charitable fund that supports pupils and students from a specific area of Nithsdale, covering communities including Sanquhar, Kelloholm, Thornhill, Closeburn and Moniaive, and the secondary schools of Sanquhar Academy and Wallace Hall Academy.
Alongside the Ferguson Prize increase, the committee approved bursaries for 40 students in further education — 29 new applicants and 11 continuing students — each receiving £94.60 to help with course costs.
A council report on the John Wallace Trust states: “Twenty-nine new applicants all meet the criteria for the John Wallace Trust.
“Thirteen students attended Sanquhar Academy, 14 students attended Wallace Hall Academy, and two students previously attended school within Dumfries and Galloway.
“From the 29 new applicants, nine students reside in the Sanquhar area, eight students reside in the Kelloholm/Kirkconnel area,
seven students reside in the Thornhill area and five students reside in the areas of Closeburn and Moniaive.
“Students can apply online, by telephone and by post. Students and parents were contacted direct by the Education Central Office and both primary and secondary schools in the area of benefit were sent information regarding promoting the Trust.”
The total forecasted income available for distribution for 2025/26 stands at £7,296.60.
The trust also helps to fund school trips across its area of benefit, with a wide variety of educational outings supported during the year.
Primary school highlights included visits to Caerlaverock Castle, the Devil’s Porridge Museum in Eastriggs, the Cosmic Garden of Speculation at Portrack, and a residential trip to Dumfries House for Wallace Hall primary pupils.
Kelloholm pupils made the trip to Wallace Hall Academy for a K’nex Championships competition, and several schools attended a cross-country festival at Park Farm in Dumfries.
Secondary school trips were equally varied. Sanquhar Academy pupils travelled to Blackpool for a science and biology trip, Glasgow for an English visit, and Edinburgh for art and geography outings. Wallace Hall Academy’s trips included a history, modern studies and politics visit to Belfast, an Alton Towers physics of roller coasters trip for senior pupils, and two social wellbeing and educational visits — one to Manchester and one to Liverpool.
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