Ashfield Girls opening.indd - Belfast Education & Library Board

Ashfield Girls’ High School- a world-class facilityAt the official opening of Ashfield Girls High School are David Cargo, BELB Chief Executive,Jim Rodgers, BELB Chairperson, Adeline Dinsmore, former principal Ashfield Girls’ HS, AlisonMungavin, principal Ashfield Girls’ HS, Damien Toner, Services Manager Amey FMP, Penny McKeown,Chairperson Ashfield Girls’ HS Board of Governors, and Naomi Long, Lord Mayor of BelfastA Belfast Principal has calledher new school “the most innovativeschool building in theworld” at its official opening,which was attended by over 300guests from the education, constructionand community sectors.Ashfi eld Girls’ High School inEast Belfast is the second schoolto be built by the Belfast Educationand Library Board’s strategicpartnership which will modernisethe schools’ estate in the cityover the next 10 years.Alison Mungavin, who took overas principal this month, steppedinto the new specialist ICT schoolwhich contains fully equippeddrama and dance studios, recordingstudios in both the music andmedia departments, computerstudy pods on every fl oor of theschool, fi tness suite and a hugeatrium which forms the centrepieceof the building.“There is no other school likethis anywhere in the BritishIsles. It was designed by formerPrincipal Adeline Dinsmore whoworked alongside architects andplanners to produce a stunningschool building,” said Alison.“It is a building which supportsand enhances the learning process,anticipates change and inspiresunimagined possibilitiesfor our pupils. It is the most innovativeschool building in theworld.”Six new schools have been builtby the BELB this year under a£400 million major strategic partnershipagreement with Amey-

FMP, supported by the StrategicInvestment Board. Five more newschools are due to start constructionbefore the end of the year.Facilities at the new schools willbe available for public use afterschool hours. The sporting facilitiesat Ashfi eld are already attractingmuch interest and the localcommunity will also have useof the dance, drama and mediafacilities.“Ashfi eld Girls’ High School isa truly awe-inspiring building. Itis an exceptional example of thepublic and private sectors workingin harmony for the benefi t ofthe local community and the localeconomy,” said BELB ChairpersonJim Rodgers.“Like each school in the strategicpartnership, it is designedto meet the long term needs ofits local community both duringand after school hours. Thisis a great day, not justfor East Belfastbut forBelfasta n dNorthernIreland.InJune, theBELB had thegreat pleasureto see Orangefield PrimarySchool opened andnext month GlendhuNursery School willopen, followed by RavenscroftNursery School.“These are excitingtimes for education, despitethe criticism we arehearing every single day aboutour educational system. This is aworld-class facility. The contractorH and J Martin was responsiblefor building our city hall backin 1906, and their standard ofworkmanship then was brilliantand their standard today is justas good.”Former principal Adeline Dinsmorewho retired earlier thisyear, worked closely with ToddArchitects throughout the entiredesign process called the newschool “simply world-class”.“Getting to this point hasn’tbeen easy but this isn’t a day todwell on the past, this is a dayfor celebration and delight in theground-breaking initiative whichhas been the Belfast Educationand Library Board strategic partnershipproject,” said Adeline.“The new school surpasses allour expectations and is a refl ectionof the tremendous relationshipbetween the Ashfi eld teamand those who have designedand built this marvellousschool.“I have had the privilege to visitschools in many parts of theworld, including those consideredto be the most innovative and exciting,so I can speak with authoritywhen I say this new school issimply world class.“I have a feeling that someonewill need to be appointed fulltimeto manage the many visitorsthat will be arriving at the door tosee what a truly innovative schoollooks like.”The next school to be opened inthe BELB strategic partnershipis Ravenscroft Nursery Schoolwhich will be opened on Friday 9October.Ashfield Girls’ High SchoolYear 12 pupils Kirstin Gilesand Ashleigh Keyes prepareto give guests at theofficial opening a guided tourof the new school building