Exciting new chapter in shared education officially begins with sod cutting ceremony in Ballycastle

Education Minister, Paul Givan MLA, joined principals and pupils from both schools on 21 June to cut the sod and officially launch the start of construction on the new £72million Ballycastle Shared Education Campus.

The major investment was first announced as a project to receive funding from the United Kingdom Government’s Fresh Start Programme in May 2014.

The project will see the replacement of existing facilities for both schools, with the construction of new educational facilities for 1,180 pupils across both sites.

In addition, new enhanced leisure facilities will be provided by investment from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, including three fully synthetic and floodlit sports pitches, a double sized sports hall and a six changing room Sports’ Pavilion. Through the partnering arrangement with the Council, the schools will have full use of all the new facilities during normal schools’ hours each day, and Council staff will then operate the sports and leisure facilities at evenings and weekends for the benefit of the whole community.

The EA’s Youth Service will benefit from new Youth Club facilities and climbing walls, and a separate Day Activity Building, and our Grounds Maintenance section will benefit from a new storage depot.

When complete, the main educational building will also include a four-classroom specialist SEN unit for CYPS (Children and Young People’s Services).

The 40 months’ construction period will be completed by September 2027, with a new hockey pitch and four external multi-use courts to be available for use by May of next year.

In line with the Contractor’s programme, the new educational building is to be operational by May 2026, and the separate Sports’ Building by August 2027.

Stephen Boyle, Project Sponsor for EA, said the sod cutting ceremony represented an exciting milestone for shared education in the Ballycastle and surrounding areas. Stephen explained:

“The Ballycastle scheme is unique in that it involves a number of key stakeholders, all of whom have shown great commitment in getting the project to the stage where we now see construction well under way. Keeping everyone focused on the end goal has been very important, and the sod cutting ceremony was a positive and fitting statement of all involved as we strive to deliver the scheme for the benefit of current and future generations of children and young people in the Ballycastle area. ”.

The EA’s Head of Shared Education and Sectoral Support, Paul Close, added:

“The commitment of school leaders, teachers, pupils and the wider community, to drive this project, has resulted in a new world class Shared Education Campus being developed in Ballycastle. The Campus will help strengthen collaborative working, provide huge opportunities for the local area and improve the learning experience for all pupils going forward.”

Deirdre Bradley, Senior Youth Officer, Causeway Coast and Glens, said the new youth club would provide first class facilities for a generation of children and young people in the area.

“Children and Young people will have increased access to personal development opportunities. increased access to the youth service curriculum and Peripatetic instructors”, she added.