CHIEF Minister Tony Brown MHK has visited the site of the £33.8 million secondary school that is rapidly taking shape at Bemahague, Onchan.
The school opens in September 2012 and will accommodate 800 pupils from Years 7 to 9 (Key Stage 3 - 11 to 13 year olds) at St Ninian's High School.
The Chief Minister was shown around the 18-acre site by Education and Children's Minister Eddie Teare MHK, the department's chief executive officer Stuart Dobson and estates director Richard Collister.
Mr Brown said: "I was delighted to visit this new school during its construction stage. It was most interesting to see it at this stage of development.
‘The school and sport facilities are fantastic and are going to provide a wonderful educational establishment for our young people and for the staff.
"The sports facilities will be another, much welcomed, addition, especially outside of normal school operations.
"I was very impressed with what I saw and, like many, I look forward to seeing it open in 2012."
He added: "This development demonstrates the government's continuing commitment to the provision of another quality education facility for our community, which is something we can all be proud of.
"I would congratulate the minister, his team and everyone involved in this substantial construction, which, when completed, will provide the area with a most excellent, modern-quality school that will benefit many generations of schoolchildren and the local community."
Mr Collister said Auldyn Construction Ltd and its subcontractors are making good progress with the building.
He said: "Work continues apace on site up at Bemahague, with more than 100 operatives currently engaged across the site.
"We are now over half way through the construction period and work continues on completion of the external envelope and progression in parallel on mechanical and electrical services and internal fit-out.
"The better weather and drying ground conditions will enable works to re-commence on completion of the all-weather pitch, the cricket/football pitch oval and the soft landscaping.
"Work has recently commenced on the substructures for the new footbridge over the TT course at Bedstead corner and we are currently targeting the bridge being craned into position at the end of April."
Once the new school opens the existing, crowded St Ninian's High School building will house solely Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11 - 14 to 16 year olds) and sixth form students.
Photos by Brian Mitchell
