First Minister visits High

Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 8th April 2016 -

First Minister Arlene Foster is pictured at a tour of new facilities at Ballymoney High School, Co Antrim.

The First Minister is pictured with Finance Minister Mervyn Storey and School Principal Cynthia Currie.

Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. — Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 8th April 2016 - First Minister Arlene Foster is pictured at a tour of new facilities at Ballymoney High School, Co Antrim. The First Minister is pictured with Finance Minister Mervyn Storey and School Principal Cynthia Currie. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Mr Desmond Fulton, Chair of the Board of Governors at Ballymoney High School welcomed the First Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster and the Minister for Finance and Personnel, Mr Mervyn Storey to Ballymoney High School on Friday.

At a reception the First Minister and Minister for Finance and Personnel were joined by a selection of pupils, staff, governors and representatives from the EA in getting an update on progress with the investment of £3.9 million through the School Enhancement Project.

Those present were entertained by Head of Music Mrs Brown, the Chamber Choir and some instrumentalists.

It was shared with visitors and guests that the current timescale is for pupils and staff to move into the new extension at the end of April, start of May and immediately after phase two would begin where there will be extensive refurbishment of the corridors and toilet areas inside the main building.

Mr Fulton, the Chair of Governors highlighted how this was a positive time for Ballymoney High School and indeed for the other two post primary schools in the area.

He expressed how he and the Governors hoped that this positive phase for the school community would continue as the school moved forward in seeking Post 16 provision.

He shared with the First Minister the strong desire by the local community to have provision in place which would enable pupils to be able to

remain at Ballymoney High School for their 16-19 study.

First Minister Arlene Foster is pictured at a tour of new facilities at Ballymoney High School.

The First Minister is pictured with Finance Minister Mervyn Storey and School Principal Cynthia Currie Vice Principal Jonny Bingham.

Picture by Kelvin Boyes. INBM16-16S — First Minister Arlene Foster is pictured at a tour of new facilities at Ballymoney High School. The First Minister is pictured with Finance Minister Mervyn Storey and School Principal Cynthia Currie Vice Principal Jonny Bingham. Picture by Kelvin Boyes. INBM16-16S

The First Minister expressed her delight in seeing the state of the art facilities and how pleased she was to see more educational opportunities and pathways being made available to the young people.