Education Minister Paul Givan has celebrated the beginning of construction of a new school building at Mary Queen of Peace Primary School in Glenravel.
The major investment of more than £10 million will deliver nine new classrooms and reunite the school, which had been operating across a split site.
Welcoming the start of construction at an event held at the new site, Paul Givan said:
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Mary Queen of Peace Primary School and the wider community of Glenravel.
Providing inspiring environments for teaching and learning is a key factor in supporting our children to thrive. This investment will deliver lasting benefits for years to come, ensuring Mary Queen of Peace can deliver high quality education for generations to come.
Schools are so much more than just the building that houses them, they are the people who teach, lead and work within them and the parents and wider communities that support them, often going above and beyond.
I commend the school and all those involved for their hard work in reaching this milestone and I wish them every success as the vision for the new school becomes a reality.”
Construction on the site began in March 2026 and is due to be completed in July 2027.
Principal Malachy Conlon said:
“Today is a momentous occasion in the history at Mary Queen of Peace Primary School. Our new school is the result of years of hard work, planning and teamwork. I pay tribute to everyone involved. Our new school is an investment in the future of our pupils and the whole school community.”
esc is providing Project Management and Quantity Surveying services on the development, supporting the delivery of the state-of-the-art educational facility from construction through to completion. The project forms part of esc’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality education infrastructure projects across Northern Ireland, helping to create modern learning environments that will benefit pupils, staff and the wider community for generations to come.
Photo credit: Department of Education Press Office