Arvalee School and Resource Centre officially unveiled

The First and deputy First Ministers attended the "opening celebration" of the local Omagh Special School, they were also joined by Education Minister Peter Weir.

The school became the first of six local schools to be situated at the new Strule Shared Education Campus in the town, when it opened its doors officially early last month.

The Strule Campus project is a multi-million pound Executive committment and will see all six educational facilities share resources on the reclaimed site, that used to be Lisnelly Army Barracks.

Some of the frontage at the newly-built Arvalee School on the Strule Shared Education Campus, Omagh

Arlene Foster, Martin McGuinness and Peter Weir were treated to a musical showcase during the visit.

Pupils sang and performed songs that they'd penned themselves describing their love for the school, as well as another based on the Strule campus' ethos of "Broadening Horizons".

The trio of ministers also got up close and personal with some of the new classroom and teaching facilities at the state-of-the-art new-build.

Arvalee's new school building was erected and fitted out at a cost of £8.2 million.

First Minister Arlene Foster addressing a crowded assembly hall at Arvalee School yesterday.

Speaking at the event, First Minister, Arlene Foster said the development of Arvalee and the Strule Campus in Omagh was "further proof" of the Stormont Executive's delivery for the people of Northern Ireland.

“This Executive is delivering for Northern Ireland and the £8.2million provided for the completion of this new school for Omagh is further proof," she said.

She underlined the importance of the school and resource centre to the overall project that is Strule.

“This is the first and important step in the completion of Strule Shared Education Campus which was an Executive commitment within the last Programme for Government," she said. 

"This project involves significant capital investment of over £150million into the construction of six core schools and associated shared education facilities to cater for the needs of more than 4,000 pupils," she added.

The DUP leader then outlined the overarching vision behind the project.

“This Campus is designed to encourage cohesion, collaboration and partnership. It will be a vibrant place where our next generation, children from different backgrounds will benefit from excellent new facilities, learning together in an environment that will encourage respect for all. I am very much looking forward to the other schools, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy Grammar School, Omagh High School, and Sacred Heart College joining Arvalee on site for the planned campus opening in 2020," she continued.

For the deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, the Strule Shared Education Campus could act as a determiner when it comes to breaking down the barriers caused by historic divisions in Northern Ireland.

“Strule Shared Education Campus is at the forefront of shared education facilities and locating the schools together enables greater understanding and provides the space in which mutual respect and friendships can grow," he said.

“The Strule campus has the potential to unite our community like never before and as the first school on the campus, Arvalee are important players. I wish the Principal, Board of Governors and most importantly the pupils of Arvalee every success in this next chapter of their history," he went on.

The Strule Shared Education Campus, Omagh described as a possible 'blueprint' for education in Northern Ireland in the future

Education Peter Weir said he was "pleased" to be back at the school he'd visited before - whilst in construction, and more recently during the start of term.

“This is a significant moment for both Arvalee School and Strule Shared Education Campus," he said. 

“As the first school on the campus, the opening of Arvalee is a major accomplishment within the overall Strule programme. I am very pleased to be here today to mark the achievements of everyone involved and celebrate alongside pupils and staff," he continued.

The DUP MLA for North Down also stated his belief that the project had a role to play in shaping the future of shared education here.

"In many ways, as we move ahead, there's got to be greater sharing amongst our schools," he said.

"I think the example that's here in Omagh, I think very much is a pathway for Northern Ireland. I suppose you could say Arvalee's leading for Omagh, and Omagh's leading for Northern Ireland in this exercise - and I'm incredibly excited by that," the Minister said.

Addressing any supposed resistance to this new model - which sees six individually, long-established schools come together on one site - Minister Weir said it was a case of "seeing is believing" for critics going forward.

"Obviously, change always brings a level of resistance from people - but when they see what's on offer here - that'll transform their views," he said.

"We're aiming to have all six on site by 2020, it's a major £150 million project but when we see the sharing of the facilities it'll very much become a blueprint for the town - and will help bring Omagh together," he added.