The date of Aberdeen Grammar School's foundation is unknown, but the school has existed for at least five and a half centuries. The first documentary reference to the town Grammar School occurs in the Burgh Records for the year 1418, when the Provost and the Council nominated John Homyll as 'Master of the Schools', in place of Andrew of Chivas, deceased, and the Chancellors of the Cathedral confirmed his appointment. The succession of Rectors since 1479 is known.

Until 1863 the school was situated in Schoolhill and the curriculum latterly consisted of Latin, Greek and Ancient Geography. Supported by the public spirit of local citizens, the Town Council used the design of James Matthews (1861-3) and additions by Matthew and Mackenzie (1894) to erect the present handsome building on the edge of the Denburn, using Rubislaw granite. The new building was opened on 23 October 1863 and allowed expansion of the curriculum to include English, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Drawing and Gymnastics. Aberdeen Grammar School was one of the eleven schools in Scotland scheduled in the Education Act of 1872 as Public Secondary Schools. Its management was thus vested in the School Board of the Burgh. Since 1882, substantial additions and alterations have been carried out, culminating in a largescale programme of expansion and modernisation in 1964. The tall two-storey ashlar Aberdeenshire baronial E-plan building now includes set-back L-plan wings which were added after the main building but probably intended from the start. Within the court centre there is a feature of the Old Grammar School - a single-storey one-bay building with pedimemnt and bellcote. The clock tower and turrets were additions in the 1960's and 1970's.

In the-mid 1790s, the famous poet and writer Lord (George Gordon) Byron attended Aberdeen Grammar School for four years. A commemorative statue to Byron sits in front of the school entrance. It is a granite sculpture with granite plinth and was created by Inverurie born sculptor James Pittendrigh MacGillivray (1856-1938) As a result of a decision by the former City of Aberdeen Education Committee on the naming of comprehensive schools in the City, the School had its title officially changed to Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School) at the start of session 1970/71. Girls were admitted to the School for the first time at the beginning of session 1973/74 and the title of Aberdeen Grammar School was restored as a result of a decision by Grampian Regional Council taken on 31 March 1977.
The school was greatly damaged by fire on 2 July 1986, with 70% of the 1863 buildings being destroyed, including the large library, a collection of Lord Byron's notebooks, the trophy room and other classrooms, although the historic facade was mostly undamaged. The school was rebuilt over many years, incorporating modern facilities, while pupils studied in temporary classrooms in the playground.
Aberdeen Grammar School is now a six-year comprehensive school serving the central west-end area of Aberdeen. It is scheduled to undergo extensive refurbishment during the third stage of the '3Rs' ('Reorganise, Renovate, Rebuild') Project.

The following is an excerpt from Mr Arthur Main, who was a pupil at Aberdeen Grammar School in the 1940s:

"I spent six very happy and fulfilling years at the Grammar and just about broke my heart when I had to leave. When I was preparing to leave Broomhill School, I was hoping to go to "the other place" (Robert Gordon's College). However, when the Town Council Bursary results came out, I had been awarded a bursary for the Grammar. At first I was disappointed and a little apprehensive. However, I came to appreciate and value very much my time at the Grammar. Of course, there were difficulties. During the early years of World War II we shared our building with the pupils of the Central School (later Harlaw Academy). The Central School building was vacated in case it would be required as military hospital. This had also happened during World War I, when my mother, a Centralian, was at the Grammar. We attended school initially 3 full days a week and later 6 half days. Several of our younger male teachers were away in the Forces. It was a great tribute to those who did teach us that we were so well prepared for our Highers, which we had to pass in a group. In spite of war-time restrictions, including the black-out, after school activities were held and flourished. I was involved in the Literary and Debating and the Dramatic Societies and the Scripture Union. As a member of the Army Cadet Force, I learned to play the pipes and went on to play for a time in the University Senior Training Corps band. I was Pipe Major at school briefly after my predecessor left to join the Army. I was Senior Prefect during my last three months, again after my predecessor had left, in his case to join the Fleet Air Arm. Hockey was introduced in my 4th year and I went on to play for the 1st XI in my 6th year. I played for Grammar FPs from 1945 till 1953, apart from my period of National Service, when I was also able to keep up my playing. I would have loved to have played on a pitch like the new all-weather pitch at Rubislaw. We were very impressed with the new extension and facilities in the Pavilion.

In my 6th year our Music Teacher, Mr. Falconer, formed a string orchestra. My father was a piano tuner and he also played the violin a little. He taught me the very first steps in piano and violin playing. I ventured to join the string orchestra and can remember attempting to play the 2nd Violin part in the "Air" of Handel's "Water Music". In my last term in 6th year, after the University Bursary Competition exams, we had lots of free time. Four of us decided to form a small dance band , consisting of piano, drums, clarinet (played by the afore-mentioned John Baird) and trumpet (played by myself). At the summer dance, at the interval when the hired band were having a break, we endeavoured to play a quickstep, a slow foxtrot and a modern (slow) waltz. At our dance in the spring term a fellow piper and I with one of our band drummers had done likewise, playing a Gay Gordons and a waltz.

Last September my wife and I paid a longer than usual visit to Aberdeen. Amongst other things we visited the School and Rubislaw. I particularly wanted to see the renovated War Memorial and the extension to the Pavilion at Rubislaw. The office staff, one of the janitors and one of the groundsmen were most helpful. We also briefly met the Deputy Rector who took us briefly into the Rector's room. I specially wanted to see three names on the War Memorial - those of one boy who was in our year, but who was older than we were, and of two boys who were a few years ahead of me whom I knew and who were "heroes" of mine. I was also able to let my wife see my names on the boards near the office - very high up and not very easy to see! I was Classical Dux in 1945, but only because my best friend (later our best man) and our mutual friend (Sandy Robertson, son of the Rector, James J. Robertson) had both left at the end of Fifth Year. Much to my surprise, I was awarded the All Round Trophy in my Sixth Year. Some of my fellow contenders were much better all-rounders at sports than I was, but maybe I was more generally involved in other activities than they were.

I hope my trip may have been of some interest to you. You'll have realised how important and formative these years at the Grammar were for me and how much they meant and still mean for me.

Yours sincerely

Arthur W. A. Main"