Glynn Primary shows off £500,000 extension

A brand new desk and chair awaited every child when they stepped into their new classroom at the start of a new term.

Principal Diane Hawthorn said that the project was a “significant investment” in the 81-year-old Main Road school.

The building project comprised of three new classrooms complete with new interactive whiteboards; toilet facilities; staff room; cloak rooms; hygiene room; new entrance hall and extended playground.

Previously, the children had been accommodated in two internal classrooms and two mobiles.

The principal indicated that the new extension had taken eight or nine years to come to fruition since building plans were drawn up.

She noted that the development had been approved before the area plan had been devised.

“Our numbers have been picking up. We also got a good inspection report last March. On the strength of this, I believe it went ahead before the area plans were published, the principal added.

Ninety pupils are now enrolled at Glynn Primary, increasing from 81 in 2011/2012.

The principal paid tribute to the local community for its support.

“The community has been so supportive and has raised quite a lot of money to make sure every child got a new desk and chair.”

She indicated that £3,000 sponsorship was donated from parents who took part in the Larne half-marathon as well as the £1,000 proceeds from a summer concert and donations from Magheramorne Prebsyterian Church’s “old tyme dancers”; the Hansel and Gretel Playgroup; Glynn Brownies and Killyglen Accordion Orchestra.

The community was invited to view the premises last Wednesday when it was open house at Glynn Primary.

Viewing the facilities was former pupil Shannon Wilson who said: “It is a big change. The school was old-fashioned with mobiles ouytside. Other than that, it was a very good school.”

Parent Paul Wynn commented that the new extension had brought the school “up-to-date”.

“The old school was great but this is a building for the 21st century,” he added.

Former governor and past pupil Roy Moore continued: “I attended the school in the 1940s when there were only two classrooms in the old building.”

Also enjoying a tour of the premises were parents John and Allison Swann, both past pupils, with their son Glenn, a primary six pupil.

John said: “It is absolutely amazing, brilliant, a big change.”

Pensioner Alister Smyth attended the school with his triplet brothers Wilson and Reggie, joked: “I was glad to leave. It was a different generation in those days.”