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Education chiefs pressed to urgently find site to build new Portadown Integrated Primary School

Approval was given five years ago to double the intake but it has been claimed the school has been 'continually let down' and cannot accommode this number at its present location

Portadown Integrated Primary School

The Department of Education has been asked to urgently step up its efforts to secure a new site for Portadown Integrated Primary School.

The school, which is currently located off the Kernan Road in Portadown, was given approval just over five years ago to double its enrolment numbers.

However, since then there has been difficulty acquiring a larger site to accommodate the growing pupil population.

The Alliance group leader on ABC Council believes action is needed and needed now.

Councillor Eóin Tennyson said: “Since Portadown Integrated Primary School was given approval to double its intake five years ago it has been continually let down by the Department who have failed to provide an appropriate location for this growing school.

“The current site is becoming cramped with mobile classrooms taking up a substantial amount of the space and limiting the area available to children for sports, play and recreation.

“The situation is not sustainable or acceptable, and is of increasing concern for pupils, parents and staff alike.

“The Good Friday Agreement contains a specific pledge ‘to facilitate and encourage integrated education’ yet in this case the resources have not been allocated to meet the huge demand for integrated education locally in the Portadown and Craigavon area.

“I have lobbied the Department for Education and written to the Education Minister asking that they urgently step up and prioritise site acquisition efforts in cooperation with partners and statutory agencies.

“It is past time we saw progress on this overdue and much-needed new school build.”

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