Belfast High and Ballyclare High projects move to planning and design stage

Previously announced in 2022 but paused due to budget constraints, the two Newtownabbey schools are set to progress alongside St Brigid’s College, Londonderry.

Speaking at Ballyclare High, Paul Givan said: “I am pleased to be delivering the good news that three major works projects will now advance in planning. The capital investment across the three schools when the projects are delivered will be over £200m.

“These schools have been in need of significant capital investment for a number of years. Their buildings are in extremely poor condition and have seen little or no investment. We are now a step closer to the development of modern school facilities that are fit for purpose and that will better support the learning and development needs of young people in these three schools for generations to come.

“Whilst this is welcome progress, I recognise that there are many other schools in need of significant investment. Decades of underfunding has left much of our schools’ estate in very poor condition.

"I will continue to manage capital expenditure very carefully and prioritise those most in need [and] of course continue to make the case for increased and sustained capital investment across our schools’ estate.”

The news represents a ‘significant milestone’ for the Ballyclare High School community, said principal Dr Michelle Rainey, and is the culmination of “considerable work and determination” to shape the conversations around the future of education provision in the town.

"Through the Minister’s foresight, a long-held ambition is now moving towards becoming a reality,” Dr Rainey added. “His announcement heralds much-needed new accommodation for our pupils, and the commitment to new accommodation across a number of local schools undoubtedly affords a golden opportunity to provide top-quality educational provision in Ballyclare that will serve many generations of pupils to come.

"While we look firmly to the future with great excitement for what’s to come, we remain equally ambitious for the pupils in front of us. We are committed to ensuring that our current pupils benefit from the very best environment possible, with continued investment in our existing facilities reflecting the high expectations and ambitions we have for each and every one of our young people.”

Also welcoming the development was Mr Michael Lowry, principal at Belfast High. “I wish to pay tribute to the hard work and tenacity shown by Governors and staff over very many years, not least by my predecessor Mrs Weir, in getting us to this point,” he added.

“Mr Givan’s announcement paves the way for a school that has accommodation and facilities that generations of young people will benefit from. However, it goes without saying that for our current pupils and those who will be joining us in the near future, we will continue to strive to provide the outstanding holistic educational experience that Belfast High School is synonymous with, through our current facilities which our Governors and staff are committed to maintaining to as high a standard as possible.

"The Governors and staff at Belfast High School look forward to working closely with the Department of Education in the very near future as we embark on this exciting chapter for our school.”