Castle Tower School in Ballymena has held its official opening.
The new £21m state of the art education complex caters for pupils aged three to 19 with severe, moderate and physical learning difficulties. It’s the only school in the Ballymena area for children with special educational needs.
The school at Trostan Avenue, on the site of the former Ballymena Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools, currently has 306 pupils and was established following the amalgamation of Loughan School, Dunfane School, and Beechgrove School.
Work began on the 13 acre site in October 2015 and the school was completed in August 2017. Pupils have been attending since September last year.
The new school has a range of specialist facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory courtyards, science labs and art rooms and a music room.
Officially opening the new school, Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education said the new accommodation will provide Castle Tower with the much needed, state of the art, new school for the current pupils and future generations.
“I want to congratulate all those involved in the planning, design and delivery of this school. In particular, I would like to wish the pupils, the staff and the school management every success as you embark on a new chapter in your new school,” he added.
The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Lindsay Millar also congratulated the ‘inspirational’ principal Raymond McFeeters, staff, pupils and board of governors.
Really lovely morning yesterday at the official opening of the wonderful Castle Tower School in Ballymena @RobinSwannUUP pic.twitter.com/DcbuSR4XWs
— Lindsay Millar (@_LindsayMillar) June 28, 2018
“Castle Tower School is a very special place which makes an incredible contribution to the lives of children and families in our borough. The pupils, staff, governors and all of those who play their part in what is an extremely tight-knit community are to be commended for their unrelenting efforts and commitment, and I feel so proud as Mayor to see their ambitious plans and vision to create one of the UK’s top special schools brought to fruition,” she said.
Anne Donaghy, Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, whose daughter Andrea has Down’s syndrome, said the community at Castle Tower is one in which an ethos of respect and tolerance runs throughout every aspect of school life.
“It is our vision that families throughout our borough are engaged, empowered and supported in the education of our children. There must be no barriers to any of our citizens achieving their potential and realising their goals,” she said.
North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey hailed the new school as ‘a credit to the education community.’
“It truly is a fabulous building fit for the 21st century, able to adapt to the changing needs of those who enter the school and seek an education there. Every member of staff and the parents at Castle Tower, deserve recognition for their continued perseverance to fight for adequate educational provision in Ballymena. As the school year draws to a close this was a wonderful occasion as a new chapter at Castle Tower begins. To see the excitement of the children and young people who clearly love their new surroundings was a real joy to experience. I wish them well in their new school and look forward to visiting on many more occasions,” he added.
