(UK) NI: $6.6M expansion at special school planned

May 28, 2025, DUP: Education Minister cuts first sod at Kilronan Special School

Education Minister Paul Givan has cut the first sod on a £4.9million [$6.6M] project at Kilronan School, Magherafelt.

The School Enhancement Programme (SEP) project will deliver a single storey extension with new specialist classrooms, social areas and support accommodation.

Welcoming the start of the project at a sod cutting ceremony, Paul Givan said: “This is an exciting day for everyone at Kilronan, marking the start of a very important programme of construction.

“The investment of nearly £5million will deliver many benefits for pupils, school staff and local families. This project will provide modern facilities which will help children and young people at Kilronan to grow, thrive, learn and achieve their full potential.”

Construction is due to be completed in late summer 2026.

The Minister continued: “I recently established the SEN Capital Investment Programme to ensure SEN pupils have access to quality education settings and that our teachers and non-teaching staff have access to the resources needed to support the excellent work that they do.

“This project marks the first of 10 special school SEP projects to proceed to construction and represents my firm commitment to delivering quality accommodation for children and young people with special educational needs.” . . .

Kilronan School was announced in the second tranche of 16 schools to progress from the second SEP on 21 January 2019.