From left, Darren Mornin, Principal Limavady HS; Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly; Lord Caine, NIO; First Minister Michelle O’Neill; Education Minister Paul Givan; and Rita Moore, Principal St Mary’s HS.
A shared education campus in Limavady, designed by Hamilton Architects, has been officially opened by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Education Minister Paul Givan accompanied Ministers Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly to view the campus, which amalgamates the St Mary’s and Limavady High School sites with a range of new shared facilities.
These include a shared 6th Form media and careers suite on the St Mary’s site and shared STEM facilities on the Limavady High School site.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “I was very impressed by the new facilities in Limavady High and St Mary’s and am aware of the long history of collaboration between the two schools.
“The importance of providing spaces where our young people can be educated and learn together should be a central part of all our children’s educational experience.
“Facilities such as this fantastic Shared Education Campus deliver not just educational benefits to our children and young people, but promote good relations and respect for identity and diversity and will allow pupils to foster even closer relationships moving forward.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “The impressive new facilities provide an excellent learning environment and provide a space where children and young people, teachers, and practitioners from both schools can develop long lasting relationships and friendships.
“As well as supporting the development of our children and young people, education campuses like this also help to improve relations that reach much deeper and wider into our communities.
“While both Limavady High and St Mary’s retain their individual ethos and identity, the shared campus is a physical demonstration of strong, supportive, and interdependent connections between schools and other educational settings which is an important part of our Together Building a United Community Strategy.”
Education Minister Paul Girvan said schools were very much the hub of any community and the investment would have a major impact not only on both schools, but on the local community and beyond.
