THUMBS UP… Willowbridge Prinicpal Julie Murphy is delighted with the improvements set for her school
FOUR schools in Enniskillen have been successful in applications as part of a multi-million investment into schools across the North by Education Minister John O’ Dowd.
The four schools, St Michael’s College, Integrated College, Mount Lourdes Grammar School, and Willowbridge Primary School, were greeted with the news this week.
Each school had applied for the investment, which included 51 schools across the North, for various refurbishment or extension projects valued between £500,000 and £4million. It is worth a total of £134m.
Willowbridge Primary School was granted around £3.9m to provide an extension to the school, as principal Julie Murphy explained.
“We put in the application because we are an amalgamated school and are on two separate sites, the old Erne School site is old and in need of repair.
“The ‘extension’ to Elmbrook will incorporate what we lose through the Erne site, which will be demolished.”
A Western Education and Library Board spokesman added: “The new extension will enable the WELB to remove the temporary buildings from the site and create a new entrance and traffic management system. The WELB will now progress with the design of the works to the school.”
Mount Lourdes Grammar School could be in for close to £1m worth of funding for, what principal Maureen McKeever described as the refurbishment and upgrade of the school canteen, the realignment of the main school entrance and the provision of a fully enclosed covered walkway connecting the three main units of the school.
Mrs McKeever said: “The Board of Governors is delighted with this announcement as this funding programme will undoubtedly enhance the school’s provision.”
St Michael’s College had applied for the provision of the latest all-weather flood-lit sports playing field to incorporate gaelic games, soccer and rugby in addition to a surrounding athletics track and associated athletics facilities. A small pavilion incorporating changing rooms, toilets, showers and car parking is also thought to be included. They are in line for in excess of £1 million, including building and consultancy costs.
And, the Integrated College applied for around £4m with a list of projects to improve the existing accommodation at the college, by replacing 18-year-old mobile classrooms with permanent buildings, a sports hall, learning support, investment in sixth form facilities and refurbishments.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere