A major north Belfast school rebuilding project has been hailed a success.

The new facilities, delivered through a £30m Private Finance Initiative, (PFI) has replaced previous school buildings at Belfast Girls' Model - some of which were over 50 years old.

NI Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has hailed the new development as a school for the future.

"These new buildings for the are a great achievement and will provide an outstanding learning environment for young people in the local area for many years to come.

"The Girls' Model is a fantastic example of how an innovative and collaborative approach can deliver both educational and social benefits to the whole community," she said.

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"Working with a number of Government Departments and other local stakeholders, the school, along with the (nearby) Boys' Model, hosts activities that are available to everyone in the area: performing arts, youth services, outreach health facilities and sports.

"This progressive, holistic approach is proving highly successful, helping improve social cohesion in the area and improving both school attendance and academic achievement at GCSE level," she said, noting that the new school marks the opening of an exciting chapter for the Girls' Model.

The new build project for Belfast Model School for Girls was delivered at a capital cost of £30.9m and is designed to cater for a long-term enrolment of 950 pupils.

The new facilities for Belfast Model School for Girls are part of the Belfast Education & Library Board's Capital New Starts Programme. The project also involves delivering new buildings for Ashfield Girls' High, Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast Boys' Model and Orangefield Primary.

(BMcC/KMcA)