BUILDING A SHARED FUTURE AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY - NEW BUILD 2023
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Towards the end of the 2015/16 academic year, John O'Dowd MLA, as Minister for Education, confirmed a new build for Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery under Fresh Start Agreement Funding. We were delighted to receive a visit from Peter Weir MLA in December 2016, as the new Education Minister, underpinning support for Mill Strand's new school, planned for completion 2023.
A 'Project Board' consisting of representatives of school & Board of Governors is currently working with the Department of Education to complete the planning phase of this exciting new development. DENI Officers and the Project Board identified and considered a number of potential sites for the new school in the Portrush Area. The Department of Education has confirmed that a new school cannot be built on the existing site and it was confirmed in 2020 that the new school would be built on the site of the former Catering College on the Ballywillan Road in Portrush. McAdam Design has been appointed to deliver the project and the school has recently finalised the design of the school drawing on existing outstanding examples of new build schools. Together with a team from the University of Ulster, Mill Strand is embarking on research into the Neuroscience of learning to identify the key elements required to create the optimal learning environment for our pupils. This exciting initiative will enable the school to work with colleagues in higher education over the next three years to create a truly special school enabling it to better realise its vision and aspirations for future generations of children and young people in the area. |
Education Minister - Peter Weir MLA engaging in Outdoor Learning on Mill Strand Beach December 2016
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School Refurbishment & New Classrooms
In addition to our new build we are delighted that the £46,000 refurbishment of the school was completed in 2017 and that additional modular classrooms were in place for September 2018 at a cost of approximately £215,000. The school also received notice of similar investment for September 2019 with two more classrooms (pictured below) on site for the start of the 2019/20 academic year. As the school is set to grow to an enrolment of approximately 420 before the new school build is completed, two further rooms are being converted into classrooms for September 2021.
Polls consistently show 80% support for integrated education yet primary provision in the 'Triangle Area' is 4% of primary aged children. Parents cannot gain an integrated place for their child in a school that does not exist nor in a school that has not enough places and is prevented from growing.
For the last six years we have demonstrated demand for integrated education through IEF support and investment by the Board of Directors of the school. Using IEF & Trustee funds we were able to facilitate additional places and ensure that no child is denied a place at Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery. Thankfully, Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery has been allowed to grow to meet demand.
We are delighted that our Development Proposals for double intake and double NUrsery intake have finally been approved and that the needs of our existing students are now being met through on-going refurbishment and 'minor works'.
Polls consistently show 80% support for integrated education yet primary provision in the 'Triangle Area' is 4% of primary aged children. Parents cannot gain an integrated place for their child in a school that does not exist nor in a school that has not enough places and is prevented from growing.
For the last six years we have demonstrated demand for integrated education through IEF support and investment by the Board of Directors of the school. Using IEF & Trustee funds we were able to facilitate additional places and ensure that no child is denied a place at Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery. Thankfully, Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery has been allowed to grow to meet demand.
We are delighted that our Development Proposals for double intake and double NUrsery intake have finally been approved and that the needs of our existing students are now being met through on-going refurbishment and 'minor works'.
