ON September 2nd 1867, the first pupils passed through the doors of Enniskillen Model Primary School.
Today 452 pupils and 50 teaching and non-teaching staff members are based at the Castlecoole Road site.
Now 150 years from on that momentous day, this milestone event will be marked by pupils and staff, past and present at the school this Friday afternoon.
Anyone with a connection to Enniskillen Model PS is being invited to attend a special open afternoon from 2pm to 6pm to reminisce about the ‘good old days’ over tea and coffee. In collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the school will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support on the day.
Visitors will also have a chance to glimpse at memorabilia and old photographs associated with the school. Over recent weeks, current vice-principal, Anne Keys, assisted by a small team of former staff has been gathering up all the information and pictures gathered from the local community, which will be on display.
Plans for the proposed new £6m Enniskillen Model PS will also be on display for visitors to view. The current building has been operational since 1974 and was built after a fire destroyed the previous school. Now 43 years old a change is needed to keep up with advances in education as well as cope with the increasing pupil numbers.
Designed by architects, McAdam Design, the two-storey building will consist of 14 new classrooms plus a two-class speech and language unit. Crucially the new school will retain the essential character and dominance of the listed building. Full planning approval has been granted, the project has gone through the tendering process and a contractor sourced. It is hoped that on-site works will begin during 2017/2018.
The current principal Winston Glass told the Herald: “The new school build is a two year project and the building will encapsulate many elements of the old Model School such as the original red brick.”
Mr Glass says he feels a huge sense of pride to be at the helm of the school as it celebrates 150 years of dedicated service.
“It is a lovely school with a very supportive board of governors, staff, pupils and parents. Hopefully we will soon to be in a situation where we will have facilities in place that will last for another 150 years.”
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