Belmont Academy ( gd, Àrd-sgoil Bhelmont) is the largest secondary school in
Ayr
Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With a population ...
. The Academy is non-denominational and state-run by
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire ( sco, Sooth Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir a Deas, ) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. On 30 June 20 ...
Council. In 2008 the school transferred from the 48-year-old campus into a new building, which was opened to pupils in August 2008.
History
The original Belmont Academy was built in 1960. When the school leaving age rose to 15,
Ayr Academy
Ayr Academy (Scottish Gaelic: ''Acadamaidh Inbhir Àir'') is a non-denominational secondary school situated within the Craigie Estate area at University Avenue in Ayr, South Ayrshire. It is a comprehensive school for children of ages 11–18 fro ...
no longer had the capacity for all the secondary school children in Ayr and so Belmont was built. Construction of the current campus started on 10 January 2007 and the new building was opened to pupils in August 2008.
Mainholm Academy decant
In mid-2006, Mainholm Academy was closed for repairs and all of the school's pupils were decanted into neighbouring schools – namely the Belmont, Ayr and Kyle Academies. Subsequently, on 24 November 2006 it was revealed by South Ayrshire Council that Mainholm would be closed permanently and the transfer of pupils to new schools became permanent.
The public-private partnership rebuild
Belmont Academy, along with
Prestwick Academy
Prestwick Academy is a state secondary school serving the area of Prestwick, South Ayrshire in Scotland. The school is non-denominational and has a capacity of 1400. Its motto is ''Per Vias Rectas'', Latin for ''By Straight Paths''.
History
Pr ...
, has had a new campus built to replace their aged original buildings. South Ayrshire Council made use of the controversial
public-private partnership (PPP) plan to finance the project. Construction work was contracted to the British-based company
Carillion
Carillion plc was a British multinational construction and facilities management services company headquartered in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom, prior to its liquidation in January 2018.
Carillion was created in July 1999, following a ...
. Work was originally due to start in the summer of 2006 but was delayed and did not begin until 10 January 2007. The former playing fields beside the school were entirely fenced off during this process. Although work started later than intended the school was completed by the original date in 2008 and opened to pupils on 24 August 2008.
The gradual dismantling and demolition of the original buildings began shortly after the new facilities opened, during which time the old campus was completely sealed off from the new. The demolition and clearing was finished by February 2009.
New Head Teacher, 2013
Early in the year, and after many years serving Belmont Academy, headteacher Alan Moir left his post. A temporary headteacher Allan Rattray of Girvan Academy occupied the role for several weeks before his replacement, Susan Beattie, was able to take up her post.
Houses
The school has 5 houses into which the pupils of the school are assigned. Originally named after islands in the Firth of Clyde, the houses were
Arran,
Craig,
Cumbrae and
Bute. As the school roll varied, first
Kintyre
Kintyre ( gd, Cinn Tìre, ) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The peninsula stretches about , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately north ...
was added to make 5 houses, then
Bute was dropped as the school roll fell, however it was reinstated together with
Lomond as the school roll was subsequently increased again with the partial assimilation of Mainholm Academy. In 2010
Craig house was dropped and the pupils split between the remaining 5 houses. The remaining 5 houses are Cumbrae, Bute, Lomond, Kintyre and Arran.
Current Management Structure
Head Teacher
* Mr. K Boyd (2022–present)
Depute Head Teachers
* Mr. G McLean
* Mr. S Anderson
* Mr. A Bryden
* Mr. B Sinclair
Former Head Teachers
*Mr D McCredie – August 1960 – June 1969 – Retired*
*Mr A Steele – August 1969 – June 1976 – Left* Died 1976
*Mr W F Stewart – August 1975 – March 1997 – Retired .
*Mr A Moir – March 1997 – June 2012 – Retired*
*Mrs S Beattie – August 2012 – December 2016 – Retired
*Mr G McLean – January 2017 to February 2017 (Acting)
*Miss T Stewart – March 2017 – January 2022
*Mr G McLean – January 2022 to February 2022 (Acting)
Associated Primary Schools
The current primary schools linking with Belmont are: Alloway Primary School, Kincaidston Primary School, Holmston Primary School, Tarbolton Primary School, Doonfoot Primary School and Braehead Primary School.
Notable former pupils
Notable former pupils include:
*
Mike Scott from
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a folk rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Mike Scott has remained ...
*
Stuart Murdoch from
Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996. Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released eleven albums. They are often compared with acts such as The Smiths and Nick Drake. The name "Belle and Sebastian" comes ...
*
Arnie Burgoyne from
Echo and the Bunnymen
*
Noam Dar
Noam Dar (; born 28 July 1993) is an Israeli-Scottish professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, and is a record setting two-time NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. He also wrestles for Scottish promotion Insane Championship Wrestling (IC ...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
* Stuart Henderson Comedian from
Noel's House Party
*
David Simpson, cricketer
External links
Belmont Academy's page on Scottish Schools OnlineBelmont AcademyAbout AyrSouth Ayrshire Council
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Secondary schools in South Ayrshire
Ayr
Educational institutions established in 1960
1960 establishments in Scotland