ˈælən wʌz ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt bˈɛlshɪl ɐkˈædəmi, ɐ stˈeɪt skˈuːl ɪnðə tˈaʊn ʌv bˈɛlshɪl ɪn nˈɔːɹθ lˈænɑːɹkʃɚɹ ɪn sˈɛntɹəl skˈɑːtlənd.
Allen was educated at Bellshill Academy, a state school in the town of Bellshill in North Lanarkshire in central Scotland.