Prestwick Academy
Encyclopedia
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.
for further education.
The school went through major expansion to accommodate secondary pupils in the 1960s and more buildings were constructed with primary children being moved into block 7. For students in the 1950s, those wishing to take exams had to go to Ayr Academy. The school leaving age was raised to 15. To cope with this expansion, block 7 was taken over by the secondary school and primary students were moved to other schools.
In 1972, Kingcase Primary was opened and Prestwick Academy's primary department was closed down. The school leaving age was raised to 16 which once again caused overcrowding. Various huts in the school were replaced by the building of 5 new blocks between 1972 and 1974. The new buildings comprised; a new, single storey Science building (Block 6); an Art/Technical/Business Studies Building (Block 5); a new Maths/Home Economics/Modern Languages and Music building (Block 3) and Offices, Staffroom, Assembly Hall (Block 4) and two Gymnasia, a Games hall and Community Suite (Block 2).
Public-Private Partnership
policy, it was announced that Prestwick Academy would be re-built. Prestwick
and Belmont Academy
are the only secondary schools in South Ayrshire
being fully rebuilt, while Kyle Academy
has also undergone renovation.
Construction started in the summer of 2006 with Block 7 (Geography, Religious Studies, Behaviour Support and the Dining Hall) being demolished to make room for the new building. All of the new school, apart from the PE
facilities, opened for pupils on Monday 27th/Tuesday 28 October 2008. The new Prestwick Academy is a modern, open-spaced building built on three floors. Pupils have successfully been transferred into the new accommodation.
All buildings of the old school have now been demolished and the construction of the new PE facilities is complete. The full school building — with the exception of the music recording studio — is now open. The construction of the new all weather pitches took place between August and December 2009.
The construction of the new school, complete with full landscaping and the all weather pitches was officially completed at 10:00pm on Friday 18 December 2009.
Design and Technology, Home Economics, Mathematics, Music (with recording studio), Physical Education (with fitness suite).
First Floor
Business Education, English, Modern Languages (French at All Levels & Spanish at Intermediate 1/2 and Higher Levels), Personal and Social Education (PSE), Social Subjects (Geography, History, Modern Studies, Philosophy, Religious Education).
Second Floor
Art, Computing, Sciences (Biology & Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Also on the Ground Floor is the 300 seat Auditorium-Style Assembly Hall, the Reception and School Offices, the Cafeteria and Dining Hall, Pupil Support, Guidance Bases and the eLearning Suite. On the first floor is the staff room and the school library.
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...
serving the area of Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
, South Ayrshire
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 Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The school is non-denominational and has a capacity of 1400. Its motto is Per Vias Rectas, Latin for By Straight Paths.
History
Prestwick Academy was opened in 1902 as a primary school, with one building, known as 'Block 1' after the school expanded. The building was extended in 1910 and 1913 to provide more classrooms as the town of Prestwick developed. At the time, all secondary school children in the area had to attended 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,...
for further education.
The school went through major expansion to accommodate secondary pupils in the 1960s and more buildings were constructed with primary children being moved into block 7. For students in the 1950s, those wishing to take exams had to go to Ayr Academy. The school leaving age was raised to 15. To cope with this expansion, block 7 was taken over by the secondary school and primary students were moved to other schools.
In 1972, Kingcase Primary was opened and Prestwick Academy's primary department was closed down. The school leaving age was raised to 16 which once again caused overcrowding. Various huts in the school were replaced by the building of 5 new blocks between 1972 and 1974. The new buildings comprised; a new, single storey Science building (Block 6); an Art/Technical/Business Studies Building (Block 5); a new Maths/Home Economics/Modern Languages and Music building (Block 3) and Offices, Staffroom, Assembly Hall (Block 4) and two Gymnasia, a Games hall and Community Suite (Block 2).
New Prestwick Academy
As part of the Scottish Executive'sScottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
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...
policy, it was announced that Prestwick Academy would be re-built. Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
and Belmont Academy
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 old 48-year-old campus into a brand new building, which was opened to pupils in August...
are the only secondary schools in South Ayrshire
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....
being fully rebuilt, while Kyle Academy
Kyle Academy
Kyle Academy is a state-run secondary school in Ayr, Scotland, run by South Ayrshire Council. It is a non-denominational, co-educational school, serving some of the southern part of Ayr.-History:...
has also undergone renovation.
Construction started in the summer of 2006 with Block 7 (Geography, Religious Studies, Behaviour Support and the Dining Hall) being demolished to make room for the new building. All of the new school, apart from the PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
facilities, opened for pupils on Monday 27th/Tuesday 28 October 2008. The new Prestwick Academy is a modern, open-spaced building built on three floors. Pupils have successfully been transferred into the new accommodation.
All buildings of the old school have now been demolished and the construction of the new PE facilities is complete. The full school building — with the exception of the music recording studio — is now open. The construction of the new all weather pitches took place between August and December 2009.
The construction of the new school, complete with full landscaping and the all weather pitches was officially completed at 10:00pm on Friday 18 December 2009.
Available subjects
Ground FloorDesign and Technology, Home Economics, Mathematics, Music (with recording studio), Physical Education (with fitness suite).
First Floor
Business Education, English, Modern Languages (French at All Levels & Spanish at Intermediate 1/2 and Higher Levels), Personal and Social Education (PSE), Social Subjects (Geography, History, Modern Studies, Philosophy, Religious Education).
Second Floor
Art, Computing, Sciences (Biology & Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Also on the Ground Floor is the 300 seat Auditorium-Style Assembly Hall, the Reception and School Offices, the Cafeteria and Dining Hall, Pupil Support, Guidance Bases and the eLearning Suite. On the first floor is the staff room and the school library.
Notable former pupils
- Peter HowsonPeter HowsonPeter Howson OBE is a Scottish painter. He was an official war artist in the 1993 Bosnian Civil War.Peter Howson was born in London and moved with his family to Prestwick, Ayrshire, when Howson was aged four...
- internationally acclaimed artist. - Laura MacdonaldLaura MacdonaldLaura Margaret Macdonald is a Scottish alto and soprano saxophonist, composer and teacher, specialising in jazz.She attended Prestwick Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, before moving to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. She began to play the saxophone at the...
- Saxophonist, recording artist & former co-director National Youth Jazz OrchestraNational Youth Jazz OrchestraThe National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1963 by Bill Ashton.Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra...
. - Ian WelshIan WelshIan McWilliam Welsh is a Scottish politician who currently works as Chief Executive of Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland. After a brief career as a professional footballer, he was an English teacher and became a local councillor – serving twice as a council Leader...
- Chair of Borderline Theatre Company and the Scottish Advisory Committee of the Voluntary Sector National Training Organisation, a Board member of Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, Kilmarnock College, the LIFE project in Drumchapel, the Space Place in Prestwick, and a Director of the Glaisnock House Trust. - Drew GallowayDrew GallowayAndrew "Drew" Galloway is a Scottish professional wrestler signed with WWE, where he wrestles on the Raw brand as Drew McIntyre.He began training from the age of 15 in England, before moving back to Scotland to begin his career...
- professional wrestler who performs under the alias of 'Drew McIntyre'. - The MacDonald BrothersThe MacDonald BrothersThe MacDonald Brothers are a Scottish pop rock duo from Ayrshire in Scotland, consisting of brothers Brian and Craig MacDonald. They first rose to prominence in the third UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2006, and have since gone on to release four albums.The brothers are...
- recording artists & appeared on The X Factor - James Forrest (footballer born 1991)James Forrest (footballer born 1991)James Forrest is a Scottish footballer who plays as a winger for Celtic the Scotland national football team and the Scotland under-21 national football team....
- First Team Celtic Football Club Player
Headteachers
- Shona Lauder (Acting Head January 2011 – Present)
- Gordon Bone (June 2008 – Present)
- Robert Scott(Acting May 2008 - June 2008)
- Norman Dunsmore (Acting May 2007 - May 2008)
- Colin Paterson (2003–2007)
- Norman Dunsmore (Acting June 2002 - June 2003)
- Michael Goodwin (1998–2002)
- Norman Dunsmore (Acting Oct-Dec 1997)
- Roy Storie (1988–1997)
- Douglas Monikendam (1976–1988)
- Joseph Murdoch (1956–1974)
- James Scott (1941–1956)
- James Russel (1921–1941)
- James Marshall (1902–1920)
Other South Ayrshire schools
| School | School roll | Opened | Area Served | notes |
| Ayr Academy Ayr 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,... |
715 | 1880 | North Ayr | Scotland's Oldest Secondary School |
| Belmont Academy 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 old 48-year-old campus into a brand new building, which was opened to pupils in August... |
1400 | 1960 | South Ayr | 6th Largest School in Scotland |
| Carrick Academy Carrick Academy Carrick Academy is a state-run secondary school, administered by South Ayrshire Council and situated in Maybole, South Ayrshire. It serves about 550 pupils, from the towns of Maybole, Dalrymple, Crosshill, Kirkmichael, Straiton, Minishant, Dunure, Dailly, Kirkoswald, Maidens, and surrounding farms... |
846 | 1926 | Maybole Maybole Maybole is a burgh of barony and police burgh of South Ayrshire, Scotland. Pop. 4,552. It is situated south of Ayr and southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. ... and surrounding villages |
Present buildings built in 1974 |
| Girvan Academy Girvan Academy Girvan Academy is a secondary school in Girvan, Scotland run by South Ayrshire Council. The Head Teacher is Mr Allan Rattray.-External links:** * *... |
Girvan Girvan Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter... and (South) South Ayrshire |
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| Kyle Academy Kyle Academy Kyle Academy is a state-run secondary school in Ayr, Scotland, run by South Ayrshire Council. It is a non-denominational, co-educational school, serving some of the southern part of Ayr.-History:... |
760 | 1979 | east Ayr | New annex built 2007/2008 |
| Marr College Marr College -History:Marr College was funded from the money left to the town of Troon by C. K. Marr. It opened in 1935.-Notable former pupils:*Ronni Ancona, actress*Tom Brighton, footballer*Gordon Brown, rugby player*Alan Hutton, footballer*Donald Jack, writer... |
1233 | 1935 | Troon Troon Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services... and Loans |
Funded by money left by CK Marr |
| Queen Margaret Academy Queen Margaret Academy Queen Margaret Academy is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the south of Ayr in southwest Scotland. Queen Margaret is state-run by South Ayrshire Council and takes children aged 11 to 18 from the whole of South Ayrshire and parts of East Ayrshire.The original St Margaret's school was founded in... |
662 | 1977 | Roman Catholic pupils in South Ayrshire | Only Roman Catholic school in South Ayrshire |
| Prestwick Academy | 1200 | 1902 | Prestwick Prestwick Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south... , North Ayr, Symington Symington, South Ayrshire Symington is a conservation village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located in Symington Parish, covering 0.41sq Km, and lies close to the A77 road from Ayr to Glasgow... and Monkton Monkton, Ayrshire Monkton is a small village in the Parish of Monkton and Prestwick in South Ayrshire, Scotland.The nearest town is Prestwick and the settlement borders upon Glasgow Prestwick Airport.- History :The village was originally known as Prestwick Monachorum.... |
Completely refurbished in late 2008 and is now the most advanced secondary school in Scotland |