New Woodburn Primary School plan approved

The application for the new building, which will feature a multipurpose hall and a car parking and drop off zone, was granted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee on November 10.

Headmistress Annaleen Rea told the Times that she was “delighted” at the news.

“The new building will help foster a greater sense of school community and will improve road safety for pupils and ease congestion,” she stated.

“At the minute we have two classes in the main school building and the other five are taught in mobiles. The new school will have a much bigger hall and multi-purpose rooms and there will be one of each class from P1 to P7.”

The new school building wil be situated on the playing fields behind the current building.

“It has been a long process which has been going on for a number of years to get to this point,” said Mrs Rea, who took over as Head in September.

“It is an exciting time to be at the helm of Woodburn Primary School.”

UUP Cllr Andrew Wilson, who is a member of the school’s board of governors, said the approval was “great news” and work was likely to begin at the end of June 2017.

“To get to where we are today has not happened over night,” he stated. “It has taken a lot of hard work and effort from a number of key people including past principal Melanie Craig and current principal Mrs Rea in addition to the staff, parents, PTA and Governors.”