Nov 2021 Update:
Our new school build at its permanent site beside us here on the Feltrim Road is making great progress!
It is very exciting to see the school walls, stairs and various pre-cast parts all arriving and getting slotted into place! We have captured its progress as it happens so we can remember this highly anticipated time in our school for years to come!
We will continue to update as the build continues in the new year until the summer when we hope the first phase will be completed.
Sept 21:
Nov 21:
Jan 2022:
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PRESS RELEASE
27th April 2021
Malahide-Portmarnock Educate Together
Secondary School Permanent School Build To Begin.
Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School (MPETSS) is delighted to announce that the first phase of its permanent build has commenced!
Now in our 4th year, MPETSS first opened its doors to 1st year students on 27th August 2018 at temporary accommodation in Swords Enterprise Park, on the Feltrim Road, Drinan (K67 W9Y8). Limited space has seen classes being restricted to two per year group however, this year, we have been granted the opportunity to open four classes. The school is set to grow to over 200 students in 2021/22 academic year and we have over 20 staff including Secretary and Caretaker. The new permanent school building, when completed, will accommodate over 1000 secondary school students from the area by the year 2028/29.
Plans for the new school include,
- A Technology Suite that includes separate provision for Technical Graphics, Technology Wood, Metalwork /Engineering Room, Technology and Design, Communication Graphics.
- A Home Economics Suite that includes two kitchens and a Dress and Design room
- Six Science Laboratories
- Multimedia Learning Lab
- Two storey Library
- Two Music and Drama Rooms
- An Art and Design Suite
- Physical Education suite that includes a modern gym and a Fitness Suite and external courts
- ICT enabled classrooms
- Courtyard that includes school garden project and sensory garden, leisure facilities and learning sites
- Internal Social Areas for Students, also with a canteen and space for school productions
- A purpose built centre for the needs of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
MPETSS serves a large catchment area that covers not only Malahide and Portmarnock but also Kinsealy, Drynam & the Malahide Road to Clongriffin at its edge. This wide catchment area has meant that the demand for school places is high, particularly this year with 1st year places filling quickly and many being disappointed not to get a place.
MPETSS Principal Aoife Kelly-Gibson is hopeful this will change with the completion of the new build.
“We are very excited to learn that our permanent build is due to begin. Our temporary accommodation has served the current students well for three years and will continue to do so for a further year. Our entire school community is very much looking forward to settling into our state-of-the-art building. It has been a long road to this point, working with temporary arrangements which have restricted our growth.
Ms Kelly-Gibson continues, “Student applications for 21/22 1st year and additional enquiries from new residents moving to the Malahide area were the highest seen this year in all local schools. We were grateful that our initial intake of two 1st year classes was increased by the Department to a third class to help enrol more of these students. Completion of the new build will bring additional capacity & facilities which will allow us grow our student base exponentially to meet the demand in our catchment.”
Chairperson to the Board of Management David Graham adds:
“MPETSS was opened under the patronage of Educate Together in response to local parental demand. We are thrilled to learn that our build is about to begin. We are hopeful that the first phase of our build can be delivered on time for our 2022-23 academic year, so it is vital that work begins without further delay. We would like to thank local TDs Darragh O’Brien and Alan Farrell for their ongoing support for MPETSS, which is very much appreciated.”
Mr Graham continues:
“As our campus is expected to grow rapidly over the coming years, it is vital that sufficient pedestrian, cycle and public transport infrastructure be put in place quickly so that our students and staff can travel to and from school in safety. We are looking forward to collaborating with Fingal County Council, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Education to ensure that access issues are addressed to support our school community.”
Information on MPETSS can be found at www.mpetss.ie.
Late Applications for 1st year 21/22 can be made at new student applications. Applications for 1st year 22/23 will open in October 2021.
-ENDS-
For further information;
Malahide Portmarnock ETSS
Office: 01 9631299 / office@mpetss.ie