MANY happy and smiling faces were seen at the brand-new Model School, Enniskillen yesterday (Wednesday) morning with children, teachers and parents delighted to enter it.

Adding even more of a sense of occasion, the children were greeted by balloon arches organised by the Parent Teacher Association and provided by Chantelle Kennedy, Ella's Bowtique and Crafts.

The new school has been under construction since 2019 and is estimated to have cost in the region of £8 million.

Speaking on the exciting occasion for the school community, school Principal Winston Glass expressed his and the school's delight at this phase in development.

He said: “The building of the new school by Woodvale Construction began on June 3, 2019. Almost two years later, all are delighted to have moved into the spacious, bright, and modern premises.

"After almost 20 years in the planning, the finished product is being well received.”

Mr. Glass paid tribute to all those who worked to ensure a smooth transition.

He said: “Woodvale, the Education Authority, governors and staff have worked hard in recent weeks to clear the old building and prepare for the return of pupils to the new one.

“The old school served its time well for some 50 years, but persistent and recurring problems created many health and safety issues in more recent years."

The new build boosts many updated features, including extra space in classrooms, improved heating and insulation, better acoustics and leak-free ceilings.

Mr. Glass added “These are lovely additions for the current 450 pupils and 50 staff.”

The build is unique, as it incorporates the original Model School building, that was built in 1867.

Mr. Glass said: “Incorporating the [then] District Office into the new build has not only enhanced the local area aesthetically, but it has also created much extra space as well as recapturing a little of the school’s history – this building was part of the original Model School when first built in 1867.

"It has now been very sympathetically restored, and will provide very useful teaching space for many years to come.”

The development work at the school is still ongoing, with Phase Two aimed at being completed by the end of summer.

Mr Glass said: “The available space for the school will have increased by some 50 per cent at that stage.

"In the interim, the disruption to parents with off-site parking is widely appreciated.”