Holy Cross College, Strabane, recently celebrated its official opening.
The school invited the local community and other special guests to join it in commemorating the completion of its new buildings and sports amenities.
Holy Cross College is a flagship Catholic Maintained school providing bilateral Post Primary education for Strabane and the surrounding area.
The state of the art building represents an investment of over £29 million with the aim of providing an appropriate learning environment to support the highest levels of academic and applied learning and teaching for years to come. The school came about from the amalgamation of two single sex secondary and a co-ed Grammar School in Strabane. The schools involved were St Colman's High School, Strabane Convent Grammar and Our Lady of Mercy Intermediate School.
Sean Bradley, Principal of Holy Cross, spoke of his vision for the school,
"Holy Cross College is a bilateral school meeting the learning needs of all children in the area and providing a blueprint for the future of education in Northern Ireland. The school is committed to offering students, parents and the local community access to a progressive, flexible and motivating curriculum in a modern and stimulating environment.
The school places great value on the educational, pastoral and spiritual development of all its students."
He went onto say,
"We currently have over 1,400 students here that have access to a wide choice of courses and subjects exceeding the requirements of the entitlement framework that are consistent with the aptitudes, skills and interests of an all ability enrolment. Fundamental to our ethos is a commitment from myself and the teaching staff to achieve the best for the students and therefore the wider community."
Speaking on behalf of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Chief Executive, Donal Flanagan said,
'Today marks a milestone for Holy Cross College. As a flagship Catholic Maintained school, Holy Cross College is a perfect example of our commitment to high quality education provision in a school which can meet the needs of students with a full range of abilities".
