New School Enhancement Projects announced

Education Minister Peter Weir has today announced a final 16 schools to advance in design under the second call to the School Enhancement Programme (SEP2).

Ten primary schools, four post-primary schools and two special schools will benefit from an estimated capital investment of £40 million.

Speaking in the Assembly the Minister said: “The School Enhancement Programme has been very successful in delivering much needed capital investment in our schools estate. As of today, 74 schools across the estate – 43 primary schools, 19 post-primary schools and 12 special schools are, or will, benefit from the second call to the scheme.

“Improving the schools estate is one of my priorities and in the current unprecedented and difficult times, I hope this announcement will send a strong signal to the local construction industry that the Department of Education is planning for the future and is committed to supporting the local economy through delivery of our capital programme.” 

To date, 58 projects are progressing in design under the second call to the School Enhancement Project. This follows 50 schools which benefitted from investment under the first SEP call.

Concluding Peter Weir said: “My Department’s capital programme aims to ensure that all our children and young people are educated in school facilities which are safe, secure and fit-for-purpose, enabling them to receive the quality education experience required to help them to fulfil their potential. 

“This announcement today represents another strand of the overall capital programme and indeed, marks the last announcement of the SEP2 projects.  Over my term as Education Minister, I will review progress on the 74 announced projects and, subject to satisfactory progress and available budget, will consider if there should be a third call for applications to the programme, as part of the overall capital investment strategy.”

Due to work on the previously announced 58 projects, these additional 16 projects are unlikely to be initiated before the 2021/22 financial year, at the earliest.  

Notes to editors: 

1. The list of schools which will advance in design from this announcement are:

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

• Christian Brothers’ Primary School, Armagh
• Greenisland Primary School, Carrickfergus
• Hart Memorial Primary School, Portadown
• Kilbride Central Primary School, Doagh
• Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School, Downpatrick
• St Brigid’s Primary School, Mayogall
• St Comgall’s Primary School, Antrim
• St Patrick’s Primary School, The Meadow, Newry
• St Peter’s Primary School, Moortown
• Strandtown Primary School, Belfast

POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS

• Ashfield Boys’ High School, Belfast
• Belfast Royal Academy
• Carrickfergus Grammar School
• Clounagh Junior High School, Portadown

SPECIAL SCHOOLS

• Hill Croft School, Newtownabbey
• Clifton School, Bangor

2. The School Enhancement programme is for capital schemes costing between £500,000 and £4,000,000.
3. A first list of 25 schools to advance in planning under SEP2 was announced on 8 May 2018; a second tranche of 16 schools was announced on 21 January 2019; with 17 schools progressing from the tranche 3 announcement on 14 January 2020. 
4. Follow us on Twitter @Education_NI
5. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110 and your call will be returned.

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