Skip to main content
Department of Education Department of Education

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • New school build for St Ronan’s College

    Topics:
    • Schools and infrastructure, 
    • Building schools, 
    • Schools' estate

    Date published: 16 May 2023

    Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education, Dr Mark Browne, accompanied by Archbishop Eamon Martin, have cut the first sod to officially mark the beginning of a new £56million school for St Ronan’s College, Lurgan.

    Cutting the first sod are (L to R) Aidan Cassidy, Head Boy; Principal, Fiona Kane; Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education, Dr Mark Browne; Archbishop Eamon Martin and Olivia Murtagh, Head Girl

    St Ronan’s College opened in September 2015 following the amalgamation of three post-primary schools in the Lurgan area, St Mary’s High School, St Paul’s Junior High School and St Michael’s Grammar School.

    Speaking following the ceremony, Dr Mark Browne said: “I welcomed the opportunity to join with School Governors, Trustees and representatives of the wider St Ronan’s College community as they celebrated the start of the construction phase of their new school.

    “This exciting project is the largest, single school build within the Department’s major capital programme providing modern facilities for pupils and staff through significant capital investment of £56million.

    “It will bring the school together as one single campus and give everyone involved with the school an opportunity to further build their unique identity and ethos.”

    St Ronan’s College has operated on a split since it was established in September 2015. These new works will accommodate up to 1,750 pupils and bring the school together on one single campus on the site of the former St Michael’s Grammar School.

    Dr Browne concluded: “I wish pupils, staff and school management every success as they set out on the next phase of their ambitious journey for their school.”

    Construction commenced on site in April 2023 with an anticipated completion in Spring 2025.

    Notes to editors:

    1. McAdam Design was appointed as the Integrated Consultant Team to take forward the Project Management and Design of the project. Glasgiven Contracts Limited was appointed to carry out the construction works.
    2. Follow us on Twitter @Education_ni
    3. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk
    4. The Executive Information Service operates an out-of-hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Have Your Say: Help Shape Northern Ireland’s New Curriculum Framework

      13 November 2025

    • Guidelines on school uniforms issued to schools

      12 November 2025

    • Education Minister cuts the first sod on new £15.3m Millennium Integrated Primary School

      12 November 2025

    • Final call for views on the future of CCEA GCSEs, AS levels and A levels

      5 November 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens