Bellshill Academy is a six year non-denominational school catering for both boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years. The school’s accommodation comprises of 26 general classrooms, eight science laboratories, three home economics rooms, three art rooms, three music rooms, two gymnasiums, one assembly hall, one games hall, four ICT suites and one multi-gym. There is also a high-tech learning centre which has four suites and a sound recording studio. The school also has seven technical rooms, three business studies room and a library and resource area.
The Learning Centre at Bellshill Academy is a community learning centre utilising the latest technology to support learning for people of all ages. This innovative, interactive learning centre has become a centre of excellence in digital media and arts, not only in North Lanarkshire but across Scotland. The centre provides an exciting opportunity for young people to develop ICT and media skills and plays a major role in North Lanarkshire Council’s “Raising achievement for all” policy.
This year the Lenshead film school, based at the Academy, won a highly prestigious national award for Best Screenplay/ At Bellshill Academy we take pride in the achievements of our young people and we are delighted that other pupils from across the Authority are currently working with our pupils in the Learning Centre on the innovative ‘Script Workshop’ 2010.
Sporting activities play a key part in the life of our school and the playing fields adjacent to the school provide facilities for rugby, football, tennis, cricket, hockey and athletics. The assembly hall has a fully equipped stage with multimedia resources. It is also suitably equipped for dance, badminton and fitness classes.
In addition to the daily curriculum, the school runs a wide range of extra-curricular activities and every pupil is encouraged to participate in these activities. The following clubs function regularly in the school: the homework club, computer club, computer graphics club, five-a-side football, badminton, gymnastics, volleyball club, netball, rugby, school choirs and bands. Recently there has been an increase in the number and range of sporting competitions and activities taking place at lunchtime and after school.
Excursions abroad are organised by various teachers on an annual basis Recent excursions have included trips to Holland and France. Residential excursions to the Loch Eil outward bound centre have taken place over a number of years, under the leadership of staff in the physical education and other departments and more recently as part of North Lanarkshire’s outward bound programme.
Bellshill Academy is actively involved in the arts and our annual talent show is held in November and a Christmas concert successfully organised by the music department, also takes place in December. There are many other opportunities for youngsters to take part in musical events. The school has organised an activities week at the end of the session. A wide range of visits and recreational activities are offered during activities week and these days have been thoroughly enjoyed by both staff and pupils.
The four associated schools within Bellshill Academy are: Mossend Primary, Lawmuir Primary and Noble Primary. Teachers at your child’s primary school and at the Academy work closely together to ensure that every young person’s transfer from primary to secondary is a positive and meaningful experience. Pupil support teachers and other Academy staff, visit the primary schools throughout the year to exchange information with primary teachers and to work with the primary seven pupils. At the beginning of June there is a special Bellshill Academy Roadshow evening for parents and primary seven pupils. This meeting takes place in the Academy and gives the parents the chance to meet and talk with senior staff and Pupil Support teachers.
Pupils from primary 7 have the opportunity to visit the Academy on a number of occasions throughout the year. The highlight of our transition programme takes place in June when all the children in primary seven visit the Academy for two full days. On the morning of the first day, senior staff and Pupil Support teachers speak to the children. Senior pupils at the Academy then take all the children on a guided tour of the school. For the remaining one and a half days the children follow a normal secondary school timetable, the timetable, in fact, which will become their own when they start in August. Lunch is available for all children in the canteen. These two days are a very exciting time for the children and are followed by our highly successful summer school which is open to all of the children in our new S1.
We make every effort to work in partnership with parents to ensure that your child is happy and reassured at the prospect of coming to the Academy in August.
Please use the ‘contact us’ box if you have any questions.