Belmont Academy

Infobox Secondary school
name = Belmont Academy


motto = Bear Witness (although current rector Alan Moir supports "Maximising Potential" as the co-motto)
established = 1960
type = Secondary School
grades = Secondary 1 to Secondary 6
colours = Black, Red and Yellow
city = Ayr
state = South Ayrshire
country = Scotland
website = [http://www.belmontacademy.co.uk www.belmontacademy.co.uk] (Uncompleted) Belmont Academy ( _gd. Àrd-sgoil Bhelmont) is the largest secondary school in Ayr, and the 6th largest in Scotland. The Academy is state-run by South Ayrshire Council. Belmont Academy is well known within the local area for offering a high level of education in the area, offering one of the best educations in both South Ayrshire and Scotland, and much flourishing talent. Belmont Academy has been repeatedly known for an output of highly educated and certified pupils. The school has recently transferred from the old 48-year-old campus into a brand new building, which will be opened to pupils in August. The original Belmont Academy was built in 1960. When the school leaving age rose to 15, Ayr Academy no longer had the capacity for all the secondary school children in Ayr so Belmont was built. Construction of the current campus started on January 10 2007 and the new building will be opened to pupils in August.

The school has 6 houses into which the pupils of the school are assigned. Originally named after local landmarks visible from the highest point in the school buildings (on a good day). These houses were Arran, Craig, Cumbrae and Kintyre - since complemented by Bute and Lomond.

The school's high-flying music department is well known for its very talented wind and concert bands, string orchestra and symphony orchestra, as well as the relatively new jazz band, formed from the Mainholm jazz band after its integration into Belmont. The current rector is Alan C. Moir.

Feeder Primary Schools

The current primary schools feeding into Belmont are: Alloway Primary School, Kincaidston Primary School, Holmston Primary School, Tarbolton Primary School, Doonfoot Primary School and Braehead Primary School.

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 Belmont, Ayr and Kyle Academies. Subsequently, on the November 24 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, has had a new campus built to replace their aging original buildings. South Ayrshire Council made use of the controversial public-private partnership (PPP) - 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 January 10 2007. The field beside the school was 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.

Notable former pupils

Notable former pupils include Mike Scott from The Waterboys and Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian.

External links

* [http://www.scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk/schools/belmontacademysouthayrshire.asp Belmont Academy's page on Scottish Schools Online]

Other South Ayrshire schools