Executive commits funding for Strule Shared Education Campus

The Executive has pledged to provide £150million of earmarked additional funding over the next three years to deliver the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Minister Paul Givan held a virtual meeting with the six school principals to confirm the Executive's funding announcement for the Strule Shared Education Campus.

The Strule Campus is a pioneering project that will provide a state-of-the-art shared centre of learning. It will bring together six schools from across the community and incorporate grammar, non-selective and special school provision. Over 4,000 children and young people from all backgrounds, will come together on a vibrant and dynamic campus. The schools will work together to provide a shared curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

Commenting on the decision, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said:

“I am delighted that the Executive has pledged this funding to deliver the Strule Campus. We have shown our commitment to this iconic and unique shared education campus, which has been long awaited for by the entire Omagh community. This represents significant investment in shared education and Strule has the potential to become an education campus of international renown. It will be a flagship for the shared society we all want for our children’s future.”

The deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:

“This is a hugely significant moment for the Strule Shared Education Campus. The Executive has delivered on its promise and shown clearly that we are committed to our young people’s futures. Shared Education plays a key role in developing a peaceful and shared society, giving children and young people from different backgrounds the opportunity to learn together in an environment which encourages respect for all. Strule Campus is a vital component in the Executive’s vision of delivering a better, more peaceful and prosperous society for all.”

Paul Givan, the Minister of Education, commented:

“The Strule Campus will be the largest education construction project ever delivered. It is a new and pioneering approach to the delivery of education provision in Northern Ireland. The campus will provide a potential large-scale model of shared education, which will inform the future development of education in Northern Ireland over the coming decades. It will produce a wide range of educational, societal and reconciliation benefits and is a key element of the Department of Education’s promotion and development of shared education.”

It is anticipated that the main works contract for the Strule Campus will be awarded in early summer, with construction commencing on site later this year. 

Notes to editors: 

1. Caption: First Minister Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Minister Paul Givan held a virtual meeting with the six school principals to confirm the Executive's funding announcement for the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh.
2. The Strule Shared Education Campus Programme will provide six core schools (five post-primary and one special school) and associated shared education facilities on a 125 acre site in Omagh, to cater for the needs of more than 4,000 pupils.
3. The six schools are drawn from the controlled, special school, Catholic maintained and voluntary grammar sectors.
4. The schools involved are Arvalee School and Resource Centre, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy Grammar School, Omagh High School, and Sacred Heart College.
5. Arvalee Special School has already been constructed on the Strule site. The Strule Main Works Contract is scheduled for award in coming weeks and includes five school buildings, a shared sports centre, shared education centre, a sports pavilion and associated synthetic pitches, infrastructure and site development works. Shared facilities for sports and teaching are central to the campus.

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