Official opening of Limavady Shared Education Campus

Education Minister Paul Givan accompanied the ministers to view the newly completed campus bringing together St Mary’s and Limavady High School sites with a range of new shared facilities.

These include a shared 6th Form/ Careers/ Drama/ Media on the St Mary’s site and shared STEM facilities (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) on the Limavady High School site. 

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said:

“I truly believe that our children and young people deserve every opportunity to be the best they can be. Investing in our schools is vital to ensuring that our young people are able to reach their full potential.

“I was very impressed by the new facilities in Limavady High and St Mary’s and am aware of the long history of collaboration between the two schools. The importance of providing spaces where our young people can be educated and learn together should be a central part of all our children’s educational experience.

“Facilities such as this fantastic Shared Education Campus, deliver not just educational benefits to our children and young people, but promote good relations and respect for identity and diversity and will allow pupils to foster even closer relationships moving forward.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:

“The impressive new facilities at this Shared Education Campus provide an excellent learning environment and provide a space where children and young people, teachers, and practitioners from both schools can develop long lasting relationships and friendships.

“As well as supporting the development of our children and young people, education campuses like this also help to improve relations that reach much deeper and wider into our communities.

“While both Limavady High and St Mary’s retain their individual ethos and identity, the shared campus is a physical demonstration of strong, supportive, and interdependent connections between schools and other educational settings which is an important part of our Together Building a United Community (T:BUC) Strategy.”

Speaking at the event the Education Minister Paul Givan added:

“I welcome the completion of this £11million investment. This is a hugely significant milestone for the St. Mary’s and Limavady High Schools and more widely as this is the first Shared Education Campus to open in Northern Ireland. These fantastic new facilities will provide much needed education benefits for pupils, staff, teachers, parents and for the wider community.”

“Schools are very much the hub of any community. This investment will have a major impact not only on the school communities, but also on the wider local community within Limavady and beyond, promoting good relations and creating many positive outcomes.

Sara Long, Chief Executive of the Education Authority, (EA) said:

“Today is a momentous day for Limavady High School and St Mary’s High School as they embark on an exciting new journey as the first ever Shared Education Campus in Northern Ireland.

“Through funding from the Department of Education, and partnership working, the EA’s Major Capital Delivery Service team have delivered state of the art facilities across two sites from inception to completion in what has been a very ambitious project.

“Shared education provides the opportunity for pupils from different backgrounds to come together to forge new friendships and experiences and to learn and grow together. I look forward to watching both schools flourish in a shared environment.”

Rita Moore, Principal of St Mary’s High School, said:

“Limavady Shared Education Campus is the result of over 50 years of community, collaboration, friendship and putting our young people at the centre of everything we do.”

Darren Mornin, Principal of Limavady High School said: 

“This is a proud day for everyone associated with both schools.  The Limavady Shared Education Campus is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work together in the best interests of not only our students but indeed the wider community. The 11 million pound investment, by the British Government, has provided state of the art facilities in which all of our students benefit from and will inspire the next generation to achieve their full potential.”

Official Opening of Limavady Shared Campus - Image 1: Pictured is Mark Baker, Chief Executive of Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC); Donal McKeown, Bishop; Chief Executive of Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), Eve Bremner; Chief Executive of the Education Authority, Sara Long and Chairperson of the Board of the Education Authority, Barry Mulholland at the official opening of Limavady Shared Campus on Thursday 21 February.

Official Opening of Limavady Shared Campus - Image 2: Pictured is Rita Moore, Principal of St Mary’s High School; Chairperson of the Board of the Education Authority, Barry Mulholland and Darren Mornin, Principal of Limavady High School at the official opening of Limavady Shared Campus on Thursday 21 February.