3 April 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Brendan Drinan, Principal, Pàdraig O’Sullivan, Deputy Principal, Ted Owens, CE Cork ETB and Jim Daly TD. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Brendan Drinan, Principal and Jim Daly TD, make their way into the new extension. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Fr. Alan O’Leary. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Brendan Drinan, Principal, Noel Coakley, Chair of the Board of Management, Jim Daly TD, Ted Owens, CE Cork ETB, Rev Dr. Tom Deenihan and Padraig O’Sullivan, Deputy Principal. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Schull teachers and students of Coláiste Pobail Scoil Mhuire (Schull Community College) were excited to open the doors on their newly revamped college on Friday. Schull Community College, who offer a comprehensive programme of education, opened in 1983 catering for 180 pupils, and is the sole provider of second level education for the area west of the Crooked Bridge to Mizen Head. This progressive community college has gone from strength to strength over the last 34 years with 405 students currently enrolled. This new extension, being just one indicator of their success, will now provide an excellent learning environment and platform for their student body with the addition of some fantastic new facilities.
This state-of-the-art extension will offer their existing and incoming new students, two new standalone classrooms with a universal access W.C, to accommodate the needs of all students. The college which operates under the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) and the Diocese of Cork and Ross, is also universally accessible to pupils of all abilities with this new build ensuring all external doors are fully ramped. These features allow equal opportunities and access for every individual to enrol in the college.
The newly built extension provides full Wi-Fi, ensuring all pupils have direct access to a wider catalogue of educational content, resources and materials. Utilising Wi-Fi creates a vast number of learning opportunities for students and teachers, allowing both to collaborate and help boost education. Classrooms also contain top of the range equipment such as short throw projectors.
As a result of a purpose built folding wall, the spacious school building can now be used for meetings, after school study, external community events, to name but a few possibilities. A huge perk of Schulls’ extension is their new therapy room. This investment is crucial for the mental health and wellbeing of students, which is hugely important to the college.
A key mission of the college is to provide every student with an excellent learning environment as well as superior amenities. Schull Community College has made this mission a reality due to their recent €400,000 revamp.
Schull Community College students have a bright future ahead with the aid of their new conditions commented Principal Brendan Drinan at the opening of the extension, “I am thrilled today to be opening the doors to education with such an impressive new extension. We are very proud of our college and the legacy of a progressive and inclusive education provided to our young people over the years. The local community fought hard for a second level school in their community over 35 years ago, and due to the dedication of all staff at the college, our students are among the top performers in the State examinations. Over 90% of our students go on to third level colleges and Further Education. This extension enables us to better service our existing students and accept further enrolments over the coming years, offering all pupils a bright, airy, spacious building with flexible, adaptable learning spaces making it very conducive to an excellent learning environment.”
