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PRIMARY seven pupils preparing to transfer to the five schools relocating to the new Strule Shared Education Campus will be among the first to experience its facilities before its official opening in September 2028.
Planning for life at the £370 million complex is ongoing, led by Go-Live Manager Majella Corrigan and Education Adviser Michael Allen, alongside principals and staff from the participating schools.
The new school buildings are expected to be completed in November next year, followed by an extensive fit-out period.
Some transferring pupils may then have the opportunity to attend familiarisation days at the campus between Easter and June 2028.
In the meantime, a public viewing platform allowing members of the community to observe progress at the site is now available for booking online.
However, as it remains a live construction site, access may be restricted at certain times.
When completed, each of the new schools will feature a similar palette of colours, with extensive use of glass designed to reflect the openness and transparency of the shared campus.
Speaking to the Ulster Herald this week, Mr Allen said preparations are focused on ensuring the nearly 4,000 students who will attend the campus are supported to reach their full potential.
“We want to make sure everything we do is for educational benefit. There is certainly a lot to consider,” he said.
“Our aim is to minimise disruption to pupils. We don’t want to negatively impact their focus. We are beginning to look at the shared curriculum across the schools and, over time, build a timetable that supports collaboration.”
Go-Live Manager for the Campus, Majella Corrigan, said students could expect continuity as they transition to the new site.
“It’s about keeping connections with people they already know while broadening collaboration between schools,” she said.
“Schools will move with their existing timetables. There will be no changes in the middle of the transition.
“We also want clear guidance around career pathways. The challenge is ensuring young people can choose subjects they are genuinely interested in, and that is one of the key educational aims of the campus.”
