Students from Robert Burns Academy Supported Learning Centre (SLC) recently took on the major task of researching the past, present, and future of their school.

As part of their project, S3 pupils took photographs and used them to create an amazing piece of artwork representing the main entrance to the Barony Campus and former Cumnock Academy.

After sketching out their picture from a photo, the pupils then used a collage technique. This involved them searching for lots of different types of paper to find colours which most accurately matched the building.

Cumnock Chronicle:

A spokesperson said: “They used magazines, newspapers, and tissue paper and stuck it all on with glue to create some interesting textures and effects. They completed the picture by using paper straws to outline the building and to create a 3D illusion.

“Here they are, proudly showing off their work to the Head of Campus, Peter Gilchrist.”

Early October 2020 was the end of an era for many students, ex-students, staff and parents of Auchinleck and Cumnock academies as both institutions closed for the final time.

Cumnock Chronicle:

The closure came ahead of the big move to the £69million Barony Campus which took place a few weeks later.

The final day for students at the academies was Wednesday, October 7. Staff then had two days to pack up stuff from the school in preparation for the move.

Social media was awash with outpourings of memories and messages about the schools.

At the time, Mrs Cook, a music teacher at Irvine Royal Academy who was a pupil at Cumnock Academy and later a teacher at Auchinleck Academy, said: “Loved my time teaching at Auchinleck Academy and my years at Cumnock Academy as a pupil and student teacher.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“I’ll forever be grateful for the colleagues and pupils I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

A former pupil at Auchinleck Academy, Mr Haynes, added: “Sad to see it go.”