Phased move-in starts at state-of-the-art campus

Phased move-in starts at state-of-the-art campus

5 February 2025

A NEW chapter is about to begin for a Newcastle school.

Shimna Integrated College’s new campus will open fully this autumn, with a phased move-in beginning later this month. 

The school’s 620 pupils and over 50 staff are raring to move into the £28 million new build nestled at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, which has been in progress since November 2022.

The three-storey college was funded by theFresh Start Programme announced in 2016 and is beside the school’s existing building off King Street.

Principal Mr Steve Pagan joined Shimna College in November 2021 and has watched the new school being built from the foundations up.

“It’s £28 million well spent,” Mr Pagan said. “The contractor, Glasgiven, is a local company from Annalong and we benefited from that. Leaving aside the fact that their commute times are probably much less than for a lot of the other projects they might work on, there’s a real pride in the work – some of the workers are connected with the school in one way or another.”

The new school boasts many new facilities and equipment, including enhanced IT facilities, a library, fitness suite and new sport facilities at Donard Park. It will also include colour-coded floors inspired the surrounding natural landscape, and a balcony with a view over Dundrum Bay.

“Some of the latest technology is being used,” Mr Pagan explained.

“All the classrooms will have a state-of-the art touchscreen board – that’s going to enhance teaching and learning. The audio-visual provision in the new assembly hall will be technically theatre-standard.”

Another significant feature of the new school is an intuitive lighting system. 

“One of the great things our architect Ian Burtney has done is capture a lot of the light in the area. When you walk in it just feels light and airy, it’s very noticeable when you’re in the building.

“If it’s a sunny day and there’s natural sunlight coming into the building, the lights naturally dim, so it keeps a constant level of light.”

There has also been a strong emphasis on sustainability in the new build.

“There’s a very high environmental threshold with this building. It’s being fitted with solar panels and underfloor heating, and rainwater will be recycled.

“Far more trees are going into this new school than we ever had in the first place.”

While the school will be fitted with brand new furniture, the old school’s furniture will not be going to waste.  

“In the autumn we started a plan of donating our old furniture and equipment to good causes,” he said.

“A lot of local schools are getting things, local churches, local charities – about 30 organisations including the YMCA, Mourne Mountain Rescue and the Harbour Project.

“All of these organisations have supported the school in the past. Our stuff still works, it doesn’t need to go to landfill.”

Pupil numbers have increased ten-fold since Shimna College opened in 1994 with 60 pupils in temporary accommodation at Murlough House in Dundrum under the guiding influence of founding principal Kevin Lambe.

“The story of how this school came about in the first place is incredible,” said Mr Pagan. 

“A group of local parents came together, managed to buy some land and managed to get enough students to justify a school.

“One of them took out a loan of £1 million to get the school going – they were all completely exposed financially.

“As part of this new project we invited them back for the sod-cutting in 2023.

“They’ve achieved this. It’s a miracle.”

Looking forward to the new school, Mr Pagan said: “There’s definitely a lot of pride in this and a sense of privilege.

“The pupils are excited. I think the new school will have a very positive psychological impact on them.

“One of the things we have planned between now and the end of the term is to invite all of our parents and carers in and for their children to give them a tour.”

He added: “This upgrade is significant. Around enrolment I think we have a duty to expand over the coming years because I know a lot of local schools are very pushed for space.

“One of our plans is to make sure this school remains and, if anything, grows as a community resource – this isn’t just for our students.”

Mr Pagan thanked Canon Myrtle Morrison, rector of St John’s Parish Church, for allowing him and his staff to work from the church for the past two years whilst the new school was being built.