Belfast Boys Model School

Everyone associated with Belfast Boys’ Model School is looking forward to the move into marvellous new school buildings over the summer period.

A key concept, articulated in the design development process, was that the new Belfast Boys’ Model School building should be a ‘beacon’ in the community. This was meant not only in the literal sense of providing a physical focus which would create a sense of pride in North Belfast, but also in the sense of providing facilities which would ‘light’ the way forward in terms of excellent educational provision for pupils, their families and the wider community.

Mr Alan Logan (Vice Principal), who has been coordinating the school’s input to the new build, pointed out some key features of the new school such as:
• The striking architectural presence.
• Excellent indoor and outdoor sports facilities including a double size Sports Hall and a fully equipped Fitness Suite.
• A stunning Performing Arts Theatre with retractable seating and a range of connected ancillary accommodation.
• A Youth Centre which will provide a positive focus for the young people of the area in the evenings.
• An extensive Technology department connected to a Construction workshop which should be a useful resource for other schools and education providers both during the day and during evenings/weekends.
• Fully integrated ICT facilities – e.g. an interactive whiteboard is part of a ‘Teaching Wall’ in every classroom.
• A suite of Health Trust rooms which will facilitate clinics and health promoting initiatives for young people and also hopefully, for hard to reach groups within the community.
• An exceptionally high standard of workmanship and finish.

The school has enjoyed a harmonious working relationship with the architects, McAdam Design, indeed the lead architect Martin Hare was a former pupil of the school. Throughout the project, the construction firm Farrans has gone the ‘extra mile’ to understand and meet the needs of the school and has brought to realisation an exciting end product.

Check out the most recent photos in the Gallery.