THE new and ‘outstanding’ Ayr Academy recently opened for its pupils and the Ayr Advertiser Series were invited for tour around the unique, modern building.

Officially opened on Monday, August 21, the £25 million eye-catching replacement has space for up to 1000 pupils, and features two learning plazas, a multi-use hall, two gyms and a fitness/movement room, and sports pitches.

With a history of the old building dating back to 1233, the last incarnation was built in 1880 and closed earlier this year.

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Lyndsay McRoberts, Executive Headteacher of Ayr and Kyle Academy, said: “It doesn’t compare to the old building – it is just outstanding; the difference is incredible and it is a bright new learning environment. It has really revitalised the learning community.

“What we had, had worked well but it had done it’s time and this is really good, new start for Ayr.

“I think one of the key aspects, the jewel and crown as you would say, is the PE facilities – the sports facilities are absolutely outstanding and going from having two small gyms and having to use the Citadel to our own Astroturf pitches, two netball pitches and gyms is just wonderful.

“But also key, is the environment and the fact we are back in the community and we are in an environment that is surrounded by trees and parks which we never had in the town before and that is changing the children.

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“They are out and spending their social time in the field and playing and we never had anything like that so it is a real unique difference for us.

“It is a very relaxed atmosphere and the sound is very good within the building so it doesn’t echo like the old use to and it is a more purposeful learning environment that we’re finding as well – it has been working well for us so far.

“The pupils are excited and overwhelmed - it is a huge shift and a huge change for them but they are absolutely loving it.”

Due to the new and improved building’s location being so close to UWS, the school is looking forward to providing new courses and working with the university.

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Ms McRoberts, added: “We have been looking at alternative curriculums, horticultural courses, enhanced sports courses and health and beauty courses that we could never have ran in the old building.

“I have already been to two of their [UWS] learning council meetings down in the building, to introduce ourselves, the school and what we can offer and I am already in the process of meeting up with, particularly, some of the post-graduate teaching courses and how we can work with them in terms of training teachers for the future.

“Also, how we can access opportunities for our young people, particularly at our advanced-higher level and taking the opportunities that they offer for the children to use their library.”

William Grant, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning, said: “I think it is a brilliant new school and for education it is going to be superb.

“When you think of the old fashion building, which I found quite depressive – this is a modern, open, light, building, what could you not like about it?

“I think the new Ayr Academy is going to make a tremendous difference to the pupils because if you think back to what the old school was like, there were no external facilities for anything at all, whether it was sport or other activities and now they have a total sports area which anyone should be proud of.

“I think with the university and college being close, it is all a tie up because you’re bringing education together in a oner and the more of that, the better.”