Building Schools For The Future - Belfast Education & Library Board

Around the cityWest BelfastIn the last 5 years the BELB has rebuilt Forth River PrimarySchool and proposes to rebuild Springhill Primary School,Glenwood Primary School and Edenderry Nursery School at acost of £8mThe challenges for West Belfast:There are currently 9 controlled primary schools with 1,650pupilsThere is a capacity for 3,203 pupils, meaning there arecurrently 1,553 empty desksThe number of primary school pupils in this area is expectedto fall to 1,188 by 2011 and 1,089 by 2017If we fail to act:There will be 2,114 unfilled school spaces in 2017 meaningthat 66% of the desks in West Belfast will be empty

The Belfast ChallengeMany of our existing school buildings areunsuited to the requirements necessaryfor the delivery of a modern curriculum.The physical conditions in which learningand teaching takes place have a directimpact on the range and quality of theeducational experiences of pupils.There will be almost 10,000 empty desks in Belfast by 2017. Over provisionof school places, together with the costs of sustaining and maintaining oldschools, impose a huge burden on limited finances.Money needs to be spent more directly in the classrooms where it is mostneeded. It is generally accepted that a merger of some of the existingschools in new buildings is perhaps the best way to manage resources.Many of the school buildings are not fit for purpose. Rooms are too small(some well below the current standard set by the DE Building Handbook),there are not sufficient resource and storage areas and specialistaccommodation is out-dated and cramped.In addition, the exteriors of many buildings are not totally weatherproof andthere is a need to address other important issues such as improving accessfor pupils with disability, removing temporary classrooms, energy efficiencyand accommodation deficiencies for creative and expressive studies suchas PE, art and design, music, media studies and drama.Funds provided by government will only be granted when rigorous casesare put forward which are financially responsible and reflect populationtrends in the areas involved.Input from Boards of Governors and other interested parties is sought.It would be appreciated that the degree of unanimity in responses fromBoards of Governors be indicated and verified by the chair and principal ofthe school.

Key Questionsn Do you accept that real change is required?n Do you accept that good quality education can best be provided innew schools fit for purpose?n What schools could you see working together either on an existing ora new site?n Where do you think the best location might be, considering thepresent properties owned by the BELB?n What is the best realistic outcome for your community?Please let Gerry McGuinness, BELB Senior Education Officer, have yourcomments by 31 May 2007.Send your findings to:Email address: GerryM@belb.co.ukPostal address:Gerry McGuinness, Senior Education Officer,40 Academy Street, Belfast, BT1 2NQBelfast EducationandLibrary BoardTowardsaCityLearningwww.belb.org.uk