A huge contruction contract has been completed and the NI Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has congratulated staff and pupils of Grosvenor Grammar School as he attended the official opening of its new building yesterday.

Grosvenor Grammar School is one of many schools to have benefited from the Executive's investment in the schools estate programme and is part of a number of construction projects where the government have joined with the construction industry to improve construction performance.

Sammy Wilson said: "As a former teacher at Grosvenor Grammar School it gave me great pleasure to see such a transformation of the facilities at this school as part of major capital investment by the Northern Ireland Executive.

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"The redevelopment of the school highlights new innovative features including three distinct zones: teaching, physical and social and it is clear from this fantastic facility that this school has all the resources to provide an excellent teaching environment for both staff and pupils.

He continued: "As we look to the long term future and explore ways of how we encourage economic growth, investing in our infrastructure including our schools and universities will equip our young people to be the next generation of leaders and will serve to create a flourishing economy.

"The official opening of this state of the art school is an example of partnership working between our universities, the private sector and government. We must continue to strengthen and build on those partnerships as we all face very challenging and difficult times ahead," he added, noting there are three sand based rugby pitches, two synthetic hockey pitches and three synthetic cricket wickets as well as a 400 metre running track, fitness suite, sports hall and a dance studio and suites.

Using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) provided this such a state-of-the-art school, so the Executive should be open to utilising similar 'smart financing' to ensure that all citizens can benefit as at Grosvenor.

(GK/BMcC)