Saint Joseph's Academy (East Ayrshire)
Established | 1955 |
---|---|
Type | State comprehensive |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Headteacher | Ben Davis (Acting) |
Location |
Grassyards Road Kilmarnock KA3 7SL Scotland |
Students | ~750 pupils |
Gender | Mixed |
Ages | 11–18 years |
Houses | St Andrew, St Margaret & St Columba |
Colours | Black & red |
Secondary | S1-S6 |
Website | St Joseph's Academy |
St. Joseph's Academy is a Roman Catholic secondary school in New Farm Loch, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.
History
St Joseph's Academy was originally founded in 1955 in its present location. Initially built on what was the outskirts of Kilmarnock at the time, the adjacent New Farm Loch estate eventually grew and enveloped the school. The school comprised an extended single building, housing most of the subjects taught within. Due to a lack of space, an additional building, commonly referred to as 'A' Block was erected in the 1970s.
As the school was constructed on what was essentially fields, the St Joseph's campus included a large playing field, comprising a red blaze hockey pitch, running tracks, and space for 4 grass football pitches.
St. Conval's High School was later annexed with St. Joseph's in October 1998 and became known as St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus. In 2004 however St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus was shut down due to falling attendance figures, and the town's Catholic children now attend the new St. Joseph's Academy campus in Kilmarnock, which now serves the entire Secondary Catholic population of East Ayrshire.
In the early 21st century, a programme was initiated by central government to upgrade secondary schools throughout the country using a mixture of public and private money. St Joseph's was one of the schools selected for demolition and reconstruction, along with nearby Grange Academy.
In 2008, the rebuilt St Joseph's was opened, including the new St Andrew's Primary - an amalgamation of the former feeder St Columba's and St Matthew's Primaries.
Primary schools
Currently the school takes its pupils from the local Catholic primary schools, not just from Kilmarnock but the surrounding towns and villages. These schools are:
- St. Andrew's in Kilmarnock
- Mount Carmel in Kilmarnock
- St. Sophia's in Galston
- St. Patrick's in Auchinleck
- St. Xavier's in Patna
Since the opening of the new St Joseph's building in 2008, St Columba's and St Matthew's Primary Schools have merged to form St Andrew's Primary, also accommodated within the new campus building. St Columba's Primary Was burnt down on August 20th 2013 and St Matthews Primary has been obtained by East Ayrshire Council.
Notable students
- Paul Burns, Scottish football player
- Paul Caddis, Scottish football player
- Colin Douglas, Scottish football player
- Chris Iwelumo, Scottish international football player
- Hugh Matthews, Lord Matthews, Scottish judge
- Gray O'Brien, Actor appearing in Casualty and Coronation Street
- Lorraine McIntosh, Musician and actress of Deacon Blue and River City fame