Work set to begin on major extension at Castlewellan school

Work set to begin on major extension at Castlewellan school

12 December 2018

A TOP-RATED local primary school is to get a much-needed extension next year.

The tender process to build a two classroom extension at St Malachy’s Primary School in Castlewellan will start in January with the work due to completed by December.

The new extension, which has bee approved by the Department of Education, will mean that P6 and P7 pupils will no longer have to be taught off-site at church premises beside the school.

The green light comes two years after the school’s Board of Governors campaigning for the urgent requirement for additional and permanent on-site classrooms.

The primary school has experienced “unprecedented growth” with pupil numbers nearly doubling in eight years, bucking the Northern Ireland trend in many schools.

St Malachy’s had 280 pupils in 2010 which increased to its current enrolment of 412 in its primary school and nursery unit.

The school has maintained a two-class pupil intake across all years for the past seven years.

The demand for places has been spiked by a glowing Education Training Inspectorate (ETI) in January, 2015 for the high level of eduction it provides.

In October, 2017, the school with a teaching staff of 18, received the highest grading possible in a sustaining improvement inspection report. 

Principal Maurice O’Neill welcomed the news of the double-storey extension on behalf of his staff, pupils and parents.

“Having been here for 13 years, I have witnessed an unprecedented growth in numbers of parents wishing to enrol their children in St Malachy’s in all year groups.

“This is down to the outstanding staff that exist here in the school delivering high quality education to every child. The extension allows us to ensure our two class intake can be maintained from P1 to P7 on the one site with no composite classes required.”

Brian McGorrian, chairman of the board of governors, acknowledged the support which has been given to the school.

“We are delighted that this extension will provide state of the art infrastructure for future generations of children from Castlewellan and the surrounding area,” he said.

“We would like to especially thank Andrew Aicken, CCMS building and development officer, who has had a major role in securing the extension and officials from the Education Authority working alongside and supporting our principal.”

He continued: “In today’s difficult financial climate, the Department of Education in granting this extension recognise the significant increase in enrolment in our school and the long-term sustainability of St Malachy’s as a centre of excellence in Castlewellan.”

South Down MP Chris Hazzard also welcomed the news.

“This is great news for all at St Malachy’s and indeed the wider school community who are understandably thrilled at this development,” he said.

“I wish Principal O’Neill and the staff all the best of luck with the upcoming construction works and look forward to working with the school in the future as they continue to grow from strength to strength.”