The Barony Campus in Cumnock will officially be handed over to East Ayrshire Council on Friday, October 9, it has been confirmed.

The £68m campus had been progressing on schedule but lockdown meant that all construction work on site had to stop in March.

Now back on site and back on track, construction company Morrison Construction have reprogrammed the remaining works and have confirmed their new target date.

All going well, key dates include Monday, October 26 for the opening of The Robert Burns Academy and Wednesday, November 18 for the opening of Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre, Hillside School and Lochnorris Primary School and Supported Learning Centre to children and young people.

Alex McPhee, the council’s Depute Chief Executive & Chief Financial Officer, said: “This has been a challenging time for many sectors, including the construction industry and Morrison have worked closely with the Council to make sure the new campus can be completed as early as possible.

“Confirmation that the official handover date will be Friday 9 October is very welcome news and reflects our shared ambitions for the project.”

Cumnock Chronicle: The Barony Campus logo.The Barony Campus logo.

Exceptional closure dates are expected from the Scottish Government in the next few days, but on the basis of the dates put forward by the council being given the go-ahead, the Barony Campus will undergo a phased opening. 

Phase 1 means The Robert Burns Academy will open on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October, with exceptional closure of Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies plus the Supported Learning Centre to allow for the packing of resources.

From the week beginning Monday 12 October, furniture, resources and equipment will be moved, while Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 October will mean exceptional closure to allow teaching staff to set up.

On Monday, October 26, The Robert Burns Academy opens to pupils.

In Phase 2, the timetable for opening Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre, Hillside School and Lochnorris Primary School and Supported Learning Centre will be released. 

From Thursday, November 12 – Tuesday November 17, there will be exceptional closure of Barshare Primary School and Supported Learning Centre and Early Childhood Centre, Greenmill Primary School and Early Childhood Centre and Hillside School to allow staff to pack up all resources and relocate them to the new campus.

On Wednesday, November 18, Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre, Hillside School and Lochnorris Primary School and Supported Learning Centre will open to children and young pupils.

All children and young people can either wear their new Barony uniforms when they return to their respective schools in August or continue to wear their current uniform.

The new uniforms are available from the usual outlets including Donsport, Kenny’s Kilts and 0290 Clothing in Cumnock, Just Jeans in Auchinleck and Blu Design in Mauchline.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Head of Education said: “I am delighted that Morrison Construction has confirmed the new handover date for the Barony Campus. Our ambitious school building programme over the last few years means we have a wealth of experience of moving children and young people into new schools.

“For Barony this will mean a phased approach with the Robert Burns Academy pupils moving in first followed a few weeks later by Lochnorris Primary School, Hillside School and Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre.

“All of the arrangements we are putting in place will reflect the most up to date guidance from the Scottish Government on the return of children and young people to school.”