Belmont Academy
Encyclopedia
Belmont Academy is the largest secondary school
in Ayr
, and the 6th largest in Scotland. The Academy is inter-faith and state-run by South Ayrshire Council
. In 2008 the school transferred from the old 48-year-old campus into a brand new building, which was opened to pupils in August 2008.
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.
, 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. 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 summer 2008 and opened to pupils on the 24th 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 is now, as of February 2009, complete and the new playing fields and outdoor sports facilities are well on their way to completion.
, Craig
, Cumbrae
and Bute
. As the school roll varied, firstly Kintyre
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.
, concert band
, string orchestra
, symphony orchestra
, and jazz band
. The Belmont Academy Jazz Band was formed from Belmont musicians and the Mainholm Academy Jazz Band after its integration into Belmont in the summer of 2006, and disbanded in the summer of 2008 after Carol MacMillan, the bandmaster
and music teacher, left her post at Belmont Academy.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, and the 6th largest in Scotland. The Academy is inter-faith and state-run by South Ayrshire Council
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
. In 2008 the school transferred from the old 48-year-old campus into a brand 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 AcademyAyr Academy
Ayr Academy is a non-denominational secondary school situated in the centre of the town of Ayr in South Ayrshire. It is a comprehensive school for children from the ages of 11 to 18 from Ayr. Ayr Academy's catchment area covers Newton-on-Ayr, Whitletts and the outlying villages of Coylton, Annbank,...
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 decant
In the summer of 2006, Mainholm Academy was closed for repairs and all of the school's pupils were proportionately decanted into several of Ayr's neighbouring schools - namely the Belmont, Ayr and Kyle Academies. Subsequently, on the 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 AcademyPrestwick 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 :...
, has had a new campus built to replace their aged original buildings. South Ayrshire Council made use of the controversial public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
(PPP) plan to finance the project. Construction work was contracted to the British-based company Carillion. 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 summer 2008 and opened to pupils on the 24th 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 is now, as of February 2009, complete and the new playing fields and outdoor sports facilities are well on their way to completion.
Houses
The school has 6 houses into which the pupils of the school are assigned. Originally named after islands in the Firth of Clyde, the houses were ArranIsle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
, Craig
Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres in the outer Firth of Clyde, Scotland where blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. "Ailsa" is pronounced "ale-sa", with the first syllable stressed...
, Cumbrae
Great Cumbrae
Great Cumbrae is the larger of the two islands known as The Cumbraes in the lower Firth of Clyde in western Scotland...
and Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
. As the school roll varied, firstly Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
was added to make 5 houses, then Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
was dropped as the school roll fell, however it was reinstated together with Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
as the school roll was subsequently increased again with the partial assimilation of Mainholm Academy.
Departments
The school's music department is well known for its wind bandConcert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, symphony orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, and jazz band
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
. The Belmont Academy Jazz Band was formed from Belmont musicians and the Mainholm Academy Jazz Band after its integration into Belmont in the summer of 2006, and disbanded in the summer of 2008 after Carol MacMillan, the bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
and music teacher, left her post at Belmont Academy.
Feeder Primary Schools
The current primary schools feeding into Belmont are: Alloway Primary School, Kincaidston Primary School, Holmston Primary School, Tarbolton Primary School, Dalmilling Primary School, Doonfoot Primary School and Braehead Primary School.Notable former pupils
Notable former pupils include:- Mike ScottMike Scott (musician)Michael 'Mike' Scott is the founding member, lead singer and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. He has also produced two solo albums, Bring 'em All In and Still Burning...
from The WaterboysThe WaterboysThe Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a... - Stuart MurdochStuart Murdoch (musician)Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
from Belle and Sebastian - Rebecca ShearingRebecca ShearingRebecca Shearing , is a Scottish pop singer. She received popular attention in 2007 at when she started uploading videos of herself covering hits by Leona Lewis and Rihanna, among other artists. She was offered her first record deal in November 2007. She decided to finish school before signing a...