Education Minister Paul Givan has announced the approval of a major capital project at St Gerards special school to move forward into planning and design.
The project, one of three prioritised within the Special School Plan of Action, will provide a 220-pupil extension to St Gerard’s Special School, located on the Blacks Road, Belfast.
CCMS Chief Executive, Eamonn Broderick said: "We welcome the Minister’s decision to approve a Catholic Maintained school, St Gerard's School, as one of three priority major capital projects, subject to funding. The project represents a significant development, with a much-needed provision for a further 220 children at the school. We look forward to taking this project to the planning stage, in partnership with the leadership team at St Gerard's, and the Department."
Stephen Ramsey, principal of St Gerard’s School said: “The senior leadership team and the Board of Governors at St Gerard’s are delighted that St Gerards has been included as one of only three schools in Special School Plan of Action to move forward to the planning and design stage. This project is essential in order for us to continue to meet demand for provision at St Gerard's.
Paul Givan said: “Over the past decade, we have seen extraordinary growth in demand for specialist places with over 30,000 children having more complex needs and a formal Statement of SEN. As a result, there has been a 49% increase in the number of pupils attending a special school. Projections indicate that demand will continue to rise over the next ten years, meaning a need for over 6,000 additional places in our special schools. Therefore, I have taken the necessary step of approving three priority major capital projects within the Special School Plans of Action to move forward into planning and design.”