16/08/2011

School Building For St Columba's Approved

The NI Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has cut the first sod of a new building for St Columba's Primary School, Draperstown.

The new school which will be able to accommodate up to 175 pupils, will be built on a site on the Sixtowns Road adjacent to where the current school is situated.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Sinn Fein Minister (pictured) said: "The cutting of this first sod of a new build for St Columba's Primary School is a great day for the village of Straw and its surrounding area.

"This school has been delivering education to the children of the parish of Ballinascreen for over 50 years and is an integral part of the community with strong links to the local people.

"The start of this construction represents an investment of almost £2million by my Department in the future of the children that attend St Columba's Primary School. Since May 2007, 53 major school building projects have been completed across the north, with a further 18 projects on site," he said.

During the week the Minister also approved the establishment of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder Unit at Jones Memorial Primary School, Enniskillen.

The proposal will provide support for children with a diagnosis of autism who cannot cope in a mainstream classroom situation on a full-time basis, but could benefit from being placed in an autism specific class attached to the mainstream school.

Commenting on the decision, the Minister said: "The new unit at Jones Memorial Primary School will enable children with autism to access small group teaching and periods of individual support, whilst remaining integrated with their mainstream peers.

"This approach is in line with my Department's aim of educating children with special educational needs within mainstream settings where possible, ensuring they benefit both educationally and socially.

"I wish the Western Education and Library Board and the school the very best for the future as they work to establish the new unit."

(GK/BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 January 2013
Heavy Snow Closes Over 80 Schools
Over 80 schools across Northern Ireland have been closed as the heavy snow continues to cause disruption on Tuesday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, as the snow is continuing to affect many roads. Areas which have been majorly disrupted include Lisburn, Castlereagh and Carryduff.
02 March 2018
Schools Closures Across NI
The Department of Education have published a list of all schools across that have confirmed they will be closed today, Friday 2nd March, 2018 due to the adverse weather conditions.
11 August 2016
Fire At L'Derry Primary School Being Treated As Suspicious
A fire at a L'Derry primary school is believed to have been started deliberately. The fire at the Good Shepherd Primary School, in the Waterside area of the city, was reported shortly before 8pm on Wednesay night, 10 August.
10 March 2022
Two Major New School Construction Projects Underway
Two major school construction projects have gotten underway in L'Derry, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced. The first sod has been cut on both the new £34 million Ardnashee School and College and the $4.7 million Our Lady of Fatima Primary School.
09 November 2001
Residents resume school protest in Ardoyne
Protestant residents in the Glenbryn area of north Belfast have resumed their protest outside the Holy Cross Primary School in Ardoyne on Friday afternoon.