First sod cut for £28m Shimna College campus

First sod cut for £28m Shimna College campus

1 March 2023

THE first sod on Shimna Integrated College’s new £28m campus has been officially cut.

While work is well underway in Newcastle to build a new ultra-modern school to cater for 620 students, the traditional sod cutting ceremony took place last week.

The new three-storey college funded via the government’s so-called Fresh Start Programme — which is being built at the school’s exiting Lawnfield site off King Street — is due to be ready for occupation in 2025.

The programme 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.

Guests of honour at the sod cutting ceremony included Dr Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education who was joined by Shimna principal Steve Pagan.

Dr Browne said it was lovely to see the mountains of Mourne and to visit a school with committed teachers and wonderful students.

“This is an important day for Shimna Integrated College as work begins on a brand new school for the local area. This is a significant investment which will benefit pupils, staff, teachers, parents and the wider community,” he said.

Dr Browne said ongoing investment in the schools’ estate was essential to help continue to provide a high quality education for all young people. 

“As well as the investment in our schools’ estate, it also helps the local economy and secures construction jobs,” he continued.

“I wish all the staff and the school management every success on this exciting new chapter in the life of their school as they look forward to enjoying their new building and facilities.”

Mr Pagan said the new building had been long awaited and that everyone at Shimna was “incredibly excited” with the progress they could see from the windows of the existing school.

“Every day brings us closer to our new state-of-the-art school, fully equipped with modern facilities to enable us to educate our students,” he said. “Today is a momentous day for us. 

“It has been a privilege to reunite the College’s founders, including the first board of governors chair Angela Morgan and principal Kevin Lambe, and to bring them together with our current chair, Denise Medea, and board members, as well as staff and students, in marking this important occasion.”  

Mr Pagan said everyone was committed to ensuring that integrated education continued to be the choice of local people.

“Our mission to provide a high-quality and holistic education which will be significantly enhanced by this exciting project,” he continued.

“The new college will build on the important foundations laid for integrated education in County Down almost 30 years ago.” 

Mr Pagan said it was a “great honour”  to take forward the new school project which has been in its planning stages for several years. 

“We are grateful to the Department of Education for investing in integrated education, which continues to be in great demand,” he continued.

Describing the sod cutting as a “truly momentous occasion in Shimna’s history”, the principal said it was a privilege to share the ceremony with so many of the college’s founding figures.

“With our 30th anniversary next year, this reunion is the beginning of our celebrations,” Mr Pagan said.

“Our new school is the result of years of vision, planning and 

teamwork. I pay tribute to everyone involved. Generations of children will reap the reward with an 

educational setting second to none. It is an investment in their future. Long may Shimna remain at 

the heart of our integrated community.”

Mr Pagan said the new-build was also having a positive impact on the wider community, “providing job opportunities in these financially challenging times”.

He added: “I also want to thank project managers, Hood McGowan Kirk and Glasgiven Contracts for bringing this project to life.” 

“College staff are looking forward to getting their hands on their new classrooms and facilities, and to opening the doors to more generations of Shimna students.” 

Board of governors chairwoman Denise Medea said Shimna College had always provided young people with a safe place to learn, engage and develop.

She added: “We are a unique school with an inclusive ethos which we are very proud of.”  

Year 8 student Kate Bradley said she “really enjoys§” going to Shimna Integrated College.

“It’s a great school,” she continued. “My friends and I can’t wait to get into our new building. I’m looking forward to exploring the whole school and especially checking out what the new drama room will look like.”

While some initial construction on the new school site, which includes the redevelopment of sporting facilities in Donard Park, began in November last year, final construction works are due complete in the summer of 2025.