Prestwick Academy

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Prestwick Academy

Rector	Mr Colin Paterson
Type	State coeducational secondary
Authority	South Ayrshire Council
Location	Newdykes Road, Prestwick KA9 2LB, Scotland
Founded	c.1902^†
Motto	Per Vias Rectas
Feeders	Glenburn Primary, Heathfield Primary, Kingcase Primary, Monkton Primary
Age Range	11 to 18
Years	S1 - S6
Pupils	1400 (approx)
Staff	90 (approx)
Website	[1]
Email	[mail@Prestwick academy.south-ayrshire.gov.uk]
Telephone	+44 01292 4778121
Fax	+44 01292 611143

Prestwick Academy is the high school serving the area of Prestwick and is run by South Ayrshire Council. The school is Non denominational school. The school has a capacity of 1400.

1 History
2 Departments and blocks
3 Future
4 Famous pupils
5 Headteachers

[edit] History

Prestwick Academy was opened in 1902 as a primary school with one building currently known as block 1. The building was extended in 1910 and 1913 to provide more classrooms as the town of Prestwick grew. All secondary school children in the area had to attended Ayr Academy 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 wanting to do exams had to go to Ayr Academy. The school leaving age was raised to 15. To cope for this expansion, block 7 was taken over by the secondary school and primary students being moved to other schools.

[edit] Departments and blocks

Administration
Art & Design
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Computing Studies
English
French
Geography
Modern Studies
Home Economics
History
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Religious Education
Technical Studies

[edit] Future

As part of PPP (Public Private Partnership) it was announced that Prestwick Academy would be re-built, starting in summer(October) 2006 with Block 7 (Geography, Religious Studies and dining hall) being demolished by BEAR. The new school should be in operation for 2008, and will be a three story building in the position of Block 7. Prestwick and Belmont Academy are the only secondary schools in South Ayrshire getting rebuilt, with Kyle Academy. All blocks will be demolished one by one with the pupils going in to temporary accommodation. The decant huts at the back of PE are now in oparation holding Geography and RE. The main playground has been sealed off with demoishing of block 7 starting shortly.

[edit] Famous pupils

Peter Howson - Internationally Acclaimed Artist.
Raymond Alexander Hubbard - PE Teacher & World Indoor Running Record Holder.
Laura Macdonald - Saxophonist, Recording Artist & former Co-Director National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Alastair John Malcolm - Community Police Constable.
Anne McGillvray - Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of Paisley.
Alistair Moir - Post Graduate & International Charity Worker.
Yonnie McInnes - Chief Reporter at the Ayrshire Post.
Hugh Smith - Former SAS Commander. Now an international business executive and global Scot.
Professor David Purdie - Leading authority in osteoporosis medical research.
Christine Sadler - Jewellery designer.
Ian Welsh - 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.
Professor Norman Lewis - Research Scientist.
Drew Galloway - Professional wrestler in Britain and Ireland, who performs under the alias of 'Thee Drew Galloway'. Current champion of Irish Whip Wrestling, he also regularly appears on Real Quality Wrestling on TWC Fight!.
Shonagh Strachan - Member of the first Scottish all-vocal girl group, Lemonescent and is now a DJ on 96.7 West FM.
Raymond Jellema - goalkeeper Hamilton Academical F.C., current longest serving player.
Alastair "The Mole" Cole - Ayr United AFC left-sided utility player
Steven Masterton - Clyde F.C. midfielder
Craig and Brian MacDonald, The MacDonald Brothers - Came 4th in the ITV show, The X Factor