DOWNLOAD : School number six in BELB partnership opened

BELB open school numbersix in historic partnershipStephen Boyle, BELB PPP Manager, William McIntaggart, BELB Head of Property Services,Former Grosvenor GS Principal John Lockett, David Cargo, BELB Chief Executive,Robin McLoughlin, Principal Grosvenor GS, First Minister Peter Robinson MLA, Rosemary Rainey,BELB Chairperson, David Cargo, BELB Chief Executive, Reg Magowan, Chairperson Grosvenor GSBoard of Governors, Patricia Mellon, BELB Chief Administration Officer, Gerry McGuinness,BELB Senior Education Officer, and Geoff Connor, BELB Development ManagerGrosvenor Grammar School officiallyopened its doors whenFirst Minister Peter Robinson performedthe opening ceremony atthe new £20m school, the sixth tobe built under the BELB’s historicstrategic partnership programme.Over 500 people attended the offi -cial opening and heard the school’sPrincipal Robin McLaughlin praisethe “world-class” facilities and predictedthat the young people whopass through the school’s doors willhelp to regenerate the local economyin future years.“This is a particularly exciting timefor Grosvenor Grammar School,”said Mr McLoughlin.“Having driven forward manychanges and worked hard to securesignifi cant investment in our schoolover the past decade, we are delightednow to provide world-classfacilities for our pupils, staff and thelocal community.“The new school building refl ectsthe Grosvenor ethos of academicexcellence, the delivery of high qualityteaching and learning, excellentpastoral care and a rich extra-curricularprogramme.“We believe that as a school, GrosvenorGrammar can help to createa future stable economy in NorthernIreland through excellence in education,thus leading to more talented,skilled and entrepreneurial youngpeople who undoubtedly will help tobecome the back bone of our economy.”Local politicians, dignitaries, educationalistsand community leaderswere treated to performances by

the school jazz band as well as therenowned school choir which hasperformed for the HRH Queen Elizabeth,Prince Philip, the President ofIreland Mary McAleese, the Secretaryof State and the Dalai Lama.The 34-acre site now has threesand based rugby pitches, two synthetichockey pitches, three syntheticcricket wickets, a 400m runningtrack, fi tness suite, sports hall, lecturedance studio, purpose built artsuite, drama studio, home economicssuite, music suite, careers suiteand sixth form centre.“Over the years Grosvenor GrammarSchool has earned a deservedreputation for its academic achievements,”said Rosemary Rainey,Chairperson of the Belfast Educationand Library Board.“Pupils consistently achieve topmarks in Northern Ireland and UKexaminations. Like all schools in theBELB strategic partnership, GrosvenorGrammar School is a worldclassfacility.“Each room is equipped with a naturalairfl ow system that ensures anenvironment conducive to teachingand learning, and I have no doubtthat its academic, musical andsporting reputation will continue tobe enhanced in this wonderful 21stcentury facility.”The BELB strategic partnershipwith AmeyFMP was signed in March2008 to modernise the controlledschools estate in Belfast. So far sixnew schools have been built. Theseventh, Belfast Boys’ Model, willopen in the New Year.Amey FMP is the a consortiumwhich is led by public services companyAmey and includes three ofNorthern Ireland’s main buildingcontractors, Farrans, H&J Martinand Patton Group. It also includesthree leading local architecturalfi rms.All schools in the BELB StrategicPartnership it is built to meet theneeds not just of the pupils but ofthe local community that will beused after schools hours. AmeyFMPprovide a community liaison offi cerwhose job it will be to market thesefacilities and to stimulate their useamongst the local community.Former BELB Chairperson Jim Rodgers, Sir Reg Empey MLA, Robin McLoughlin,Principal Grosvenor GS, Reg Magowan, Chairperson Grosvenor GS Board of Governors,First Minister Peter Robinson MLA, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson MLA and Robin Newtown MLAwith Head Boy Michael Hearst and Head Girl Emma Gordon