A Historic Day: The First Sod is Cut by Education Minister Michelle McIlveen on our New Site

A momentous day in the history of Down High School was marked today with a ceremonial cutting of the first sod on the Strangford Road site for the new school building. The Minister for Education, Ms Michelle McIlveen, representatives from the Department of Education, the Education Authority, McAdam Design, Graham Construction, Down High School’s Board of Governors, the Senior Leadership Team and two Year 8 pupils (Ariana Currie and Harold Alexander) gathered to witness the first sod being cut on the Strangford Road with a ceremonial silver shovel.

Speaking at the site of the new school, Minister McIlveen said, "This is a really exciting day for the whole school community as work gets underway on their new building. This is a significant £33 million investment by my Department and will provide a modern learning and teaching environment, tailored to meet the needs of pupils and teachers."

The Chair of Down High School's Board of Governors, Mrs Avril Heenan, expressed her delight at the news and thanked her predecessors Mr John Bassett and Mr Roy Creelman for their work over many years, as well as prevous principals Mr Jack Ferris and Mr Paul Logan. "We are very grateful to Education Authority officials, and the Department of Education who have worked tirelessly over the past three years (throughout the pandemic) to deliver business case addendum approval, having worked through various planning conditions in conjunction with McAdam Design who worked above and beyond to enable the project to finally - and for the second time - go to tender. With the greatest of pleasure, we can confirm that the contract has been awarded to Graham, a local firm based in Hillsborough. It will be early 2025 before we move to a new building that we first dreamed of 25 years ago, but the wait will be worth it. Finally, this thriving school will get the new state-of-the-art new buildings deserved by our dedicated pupils and staff. Catering for up to 950 pupils, the new building will include the construction of a sports hall, PE facilities and sports pitches, as well as state-of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces." Mrs Heenan paid tribute to the sterling work and support of MPs, MLAs and councillors from all parties who added their collective and powerful voices to the campaign for a new build over many years.

Mrs Perry echoed these sentiments. “My thanks are extended to all those who have worked tirelessly for many years to make this much needed new build for Down High School’s dedicated staff and aspirational pupils a reality. High quality learning and teaching takes place day after day on our current site, yet it will be lovely to experience these fantastic new facilities in 2025.”  

Mr Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director for GRAHAM’s Building North region, said, “The construction of the new Down High School is a particularly important project for the GRAHAM team. A number of our employees who will be responsible for the delivery of the building live in the local community, including our proposed Project Manager, who in fact went to Down High School. It is fantastic that we can be involved in delivering a best in class education facility that will mean so much to both our team and the local community.”

A truly historic day. Floreat Dunum.