Minister Paul Givan cuts first sod on Ballycastle Shared Education Campus

The major investment, which was first announced as a project to receive funding from the United Kingdom Government’s Fresh Start Programme in March 2016, will provide a new shared school campus building for Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle.

The Minister said: “Today marks the start of an exciting new era for Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College as work officially begins on the new shared education campus.

“I welcome the £72million investment from the Fresh Start Programme which is a significant milestone for both Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College. Once completed, these new facilities will provide much needed education benefits for pupils, staff, teachers, parents and for the wider community.”

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (CC&GBC) are a partner on this project, contributing a further £3.8m to enhance the sports facilities for community use.

The Minister continued: “Pupils, teachers and staff deserve to learn and teach in first class facilities and this new campus will enable children to grow, thrive, learn and prosper in an environment both indoor and outdoor that is stimulating and adaptable to changing needs.”

Acknowledging the work to bring the project to this stage the Minister concluded: “I want to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and commitment and wish pupils, staff, governors and parents every success in the future as you look on with excitement and pride as your new shared campus becomes a reality.”

Geraldine Duffy, Principal of Cross and Passion College and Ian Williamson, Principal of Ballycastle High School said: “We are delighted that our shared education campus in Ballycastle has reached this exciting milestone. This is a wonderful opportunity for the young people and wider community in North Antrim. It is testament to the vision and dedication of our predecessors from both schools that we have reached this significant stage.”

Mark Baker, Chief Executive, Controlled Schools’ Support Council and Eve Bremner, Chief Executive, CCMS recognised the achievements of Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College.

In a joint statement, they said: “Shared education provides the opportunity for pupils from diverse backgrounds to come together, create new friendships, celebrate their diversity and share a broad range of learning experiences.

"The campus is an excellent example of shared education and inclusion at a local level in the Ballycastle community. The opening of the campus follows years of successful collaboration and joint working between the two schools ensuring the children and young people in Ballycastle have the opportunity to be educated together,” they added.

"We would like to congratulate the vision for education presented by current Principals of both schools, Ian Williamson and Geraldine Duffy, their predecessors and everyone working together in making this project a reality.”

Construction on the site began in early May 2024 and is due to be completed in late summer 2027.