Belmont Academy

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 48-year-old campus into a new building, which was opened to pupils in August 2008.Head TeacherThe current Head Teacher is Miss Tracy Stewart.Former Head TeachersMr D McCredie - August 1960 - June 1969 - Retired* Mr A Steele - August 1969 - June 1976 - Left* Died 1976Mr W F Stewart - August 1975 - March 1997 - Retired.Mr A Moir - March 1997 - June 2012 - Retired*Mrs S Beattie - August 2012 - December 2016 - RetiredMr G McLean - January 2017 to February 2017 (Acting)Miss T Stewart - March 2017 -HistoryThe 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 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 decantIn 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 rebuildBelmont Academy, along with Prestwick Academy, 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 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.