A sod cutting by the Chief Executive of the North Eastern Education and Library Board Gordon Topping and the school’s first principal Derek Baillie officially marked the start of construction work on the new building for Magherafelt High School.
A completely new school is being provided at a cost of some £8.5 million and pupils should be able to move into the new accommodation in September 2011.
Heron Brothers of Draperstown secured the contract for the work which includes the subsequent demolition of the 54 year old school building and the creation of new pitches and car parking. The construction is being supervised by Building Design Partnership which carried out the planning work for the project.
Included in the plans are a sports hall, a multi-purpose hall, a kitchen and dining area, a sixth form centre, careers suite, Learning Support Centre, library and resource centre, specialist and general subject classrooms plus extensive ancillary accommodation. There are also tennis courts, grass and synthetic pitches and a cricket square.
In attendance at the sod cutting ceremony were current school principal Brian McCluskey along with other past principals David McIntyre and Neill Haugh, Chair of the Governors Irvonea Glassey, newly elected Chairman of the North Eastern Education and Library Board Rev Selwoode Graham as well as representatives of the main contractors Heron Brothers and architects BDP. Completing the ceremonial group were the Vice Chairman of Magherafelt District Council Paul McLean, local politicians Ian McCrea and William Armstrong and first year pupils Victoria Gaston and Reuben Clements.
