Education Minister has officially opened a new
build five class base school for Islandmagee Primary School.
The project has enabled the school to move to one site, providing
the children and staff with a new, modern, energy efficient
school building. The new facility represents a significant
capital investment of £5.4 million.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Education Minister
said: “It was great to
celebrate the opening of the new facility at Islandmagee Primary
School. It is a truly landmark day for the school I am delighted
to be here to celebrate with them today. The total capital
investment of over £5.4 million will help to improve the school
experience for generations to come.
“There has been considerable work to get to this stage
and I would like to commend all of the team involved in the
design and construction of this state-of-the-art facility which
will have many benefits for the school community of
Islandmagee.
“I wish the staff and school management every success for
the future and look forward to revisiting the school in future to
see pupils thriving and achieving in this new facility.”
Speaking at the event, Education Authority
Chairperson said: “This is a momentous
occasion for all those involved in the school. Today is the
culmination and the realisation of a project which I know is
worthy of a great deal of praise.
“Part of the EA's vision for education is to give our children
and young people the best start in life, to be the best that they
can be, in a fit for purpose, modern schools estate, capable of
meeting the ever-changing learning needs of our children and
young people. I believe we have achieved that vision today as we
look around this impressive school.”
Arlene Cambridge, Principal of Islandmagee Primary School, added:
“This is a day of celebration for the pupils and staff of
Islandmagee Primary School. We are immensely proud of our
beautiful new school build, and we are grateful to each and every
one of you that embraced this challenge with such a willing
heart.
“Islandmagee Primary School will serve this community for many
years to come and to all who helped make this happen, we are
truly grateful. I would like to thank the staff, pupils, parents
and the Board of Governors for their perseverance and patience
over the last number of years as the project team has taken the
work through the various stages to where we are now – a
fantastic, new, state-of-the-art building that will support the
already high standard of teaching and learning at our school.”
Construction of the new build school on the Low Road, Islandmagee
commenced in March 2023 and the new building was handed over to
the school on 30 August 2024.
Notes to editors:
1. Islandmagee Primary School is a controlled co-education
primary school which opened in September 2016 following the
amalgamation of Mullaghdubh Primary School and Kilcoan Primary
School, which operated across two sites before the new build
development.
2. McAdam Design was appointed as the Integrated Consultant Team
in August 2019. Martin & Hamilton Construction Ltd was
appointed in February 2023.
