A CO Armagh school has launched an ambitious initiative to help boost funds for its £35 million new build.
It comes amid the news that the multi-million pound development of St Ronan’s College in Lurgan has taken a major step forward, just months after plans for the project were stalled.
Principal Fiona Kane last night confirmed that the project was "currently out for tender".
Located at the former St Michael’s Grammar School at the Cornakinnegar Road, the development on the 36-acre site was the largest single school project being supported by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland last year.
The project was initially given the green light in October 2020 with the new campus for 1,750 pupils set to feature a 20,000 square metre building comprising three storeys and extensive outdoor sports provision.
But the department said in October that due to market uncertainties and after legal advice, the procurement process had been withdrawn and another process would be taken forward.
However, five months on and a new procurement process has begun with a contractor expected to be appointed by the summer.
It came as the St Ronan’s College Foundation was unveiled yesterday, calling on "parents, alumni and wider school community including businesses to support the college".
Ms Kane said the foundation is "central to the new school" and "ambitious plans are being laid down to support the delivery of our dreams".
Brian Turbitt, director of fundraising development, said they were delighted that the department had invested £35 million into the new build campus and that by launching the foundation, the school was also "taking ownership ourselves".
"If somebody wants to come and support us, we have got a way to receive that," he said.
Formed in 2015, St Ronan’s College is an all-ability, non-selective, co-educational, voluntary grammar school and the second largest school in Northern Ireland.
Plans for the new campus and facilities represent the largest single school project undertaken by the Department of Education with the level of investment similar to Craigavon South Lakes Leisure Centre.
It will create a bespoke college campus to include a centre of excellence for digital learning and a hub of innovation for the teaching and learning of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.
There will also be specialist rooms for music, art and design and drama and theatre as well as a sixth-form centre, multi-purpose hall and library. Pupils who require additional learning support or have special educational needs will be accommodated with dedicated facilities.
Two full size grass and synthetic GAA pitches and a further grass pitch for soccer are planned with a 660 square metre sports hall, gym and fitness suite as well as changing and shower rooms.
Mr Turbitt said despite the disappointment of the procurement process being halted last year, they were back on track.
"The Minister for Education (Michelle McIlveen) has stated we will have our new school built by 2024," he said.
"The new procurement process has already started and those contractors who expressed intent to tender have been received and we expect to appoint the new contractor by the end of this summer.
"The appointed contractor will be on site before the end of 2022 and the new school built before the end of 2024."
He said to further support the financial requirements of the build, the foundation has four aims to engage support.
These include engaging with past pupils, implementing donor development plans, using technology and social media to "build an online interactive community sharing experiences of the school" and creating a team of people "focused in achieving the goal faster that we can ever imagine".
The first part of the initiative is the 'Passing the Flame' campaign, which is inviting parents, alumni and wider school community including businesses to support the college.
"We are trying to advance the delivery of education to St Ronan's pupils and the wider community," he said.
"The foundation is about building on what we've got in order for us to achieve the aspirations we have for ourselves."
He said with school budgets "being challenged all the time", all contributions to the foundation "will have a direct and positive impact on the additional opportunities and experiences which will be available to our pupils and the wider St Ronan’s College community".
Ms Kane added that "pupils at the heart of the school and school at the heart of the community, remains a key focus for the college".
"With the launch of the St Ronan’s College Foundation, ambitious plans are being laid down to support the delivery of our dreams," she said.
