Construction of Ballycastle Shared Education Campus welcomed

Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the start of construction work on the new £72 million Ballycastle Shared Education Campus.

Education Minister Paul Givan cutting the sod at the site of the new Ballycastle Shared Education Campus. Included are Mr. Ian Williamson, principal, Ballycastle High School, Mrs. Geradline Duffy, principal, Cross & Passion College and pupils.

The major investment which was first announced as a project to receive funding from the United Kingdom Government’s Fresh Start Programme in March 2016, will provide a new shared school campus building for Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle.  

Cutting the first sod to officially mark the beginning of construction, the Minister said:

“Today marks the start of an exciting new era for Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College as work officially begins on the new shared education campus.

“I welcome the £72million investment from the Fresh Start Programme which is a significant milestone for both Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College. Once completed, these new facilities will provide much needed education benefits for pupils, staff, teachers, parents and for the wider community.”

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (CC&GBC) are a partner on this project, contributing a further £3.8m to enhance the sports facilities for community use.

The Minister continued:

“Pupils, teachers and staff deserve to learn and teach in first class facilities and this new campus will enable children to grow, thrive, learn and prosper in an environment both indoor and outdoor that is stimulating and adaptable to changing needs.”

Acknowledging the work to bring the project to this stage the Minister concluded:

“I want to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and commitment and wish pupils, staff, governors and parents every success in the future as you look on with excitement and pride as your new shared campus becomes a reality.”

Geraldine Duffy, Principal of Cross and Passion College and Ian Williamson, Principal of Ballycastle High School said:

“We are delighted that our shared education campus in Ballycastle has reached this exciting milestone.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the young people and wider community in North Antrim.  It is testament to the vision and dedication of our predecessors from both schools that we have reached this significant stage.”

Construction on the site began in early May 2024 and is due to be completed in late summer 2027.

Notes to editors: 

1. Samuel Stevenson & Sons are the Integrated Consultant Team on the project.  Heron Bros were appointed to carry out the construction works.
2. The Fresh Start funding forms part of the UK Government's commitment, as part of the Fresh Start and Stormont House agreements, to deliver up to £500m of new capital funding over 10 years to support shared and integrated education.
3. Follow us on Twitter @Education_ni
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk.

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