History of The School
Education in Portstewart began with the opening of the Presbyterian Church and “adjoining schoolhouse” in 1828. This old school building now serves as a choir room for the present church building. Three other “schools” also came into existence under various auspices, including Agherton Parish. In 1896, the Presbyterian Church Committee decided to look for a new site and apply for a grant for building a new school, which was to serve pupils’ needs until 1938. That building was eventually incorporated into the Presbyterian Church Halls.
Rapid growth in the local population during the late 1920s gave rise to an increase in school enrolment. In 1925 it had been agreed to transfer the school to the Regional Committee, subject to the church having use of the premises for church work. However, they perceived difficulties because of the existence of the Agherton School, suggesting that the two schools amalgamate to form one new-site school. Eventually, Portstewart Public Elementary and Technical School was opened on 30 May 1938, with three classrooms, 140 places and provision for future extensions. At this stage, the two schools did not amalgamate.
The war brought an influx of evacuees and by May 1941 the school was catering for 200 pupils. Changes took place in staffing and with the new Education Act of 1947, Agherton P E School and Portstewart P E School at last amalgamated to be known as Portstewart Primary School, with an enrolment of 268. With the resulting lack of accommodation, Agherton was still used for some classes until new classrooms could be built. Three infant classrooms and a dining hall were put up in 1952.
Growth continued and in April 1961 it was decided that a second extension was required to provide two further classrooms. In 1964 the numbers rose by 42 within one year to take the enrolment to 356 and in 1966 the local Guide hut and two temporary classrooms were in use, while the domestic science and woodwork rooms had reverted to normal class use. The last extension, of 1968 provided the school with its current accommodation, adding a two-storey extension, an assembly hall, staffroom and other ancillary buildings.
Standing in Central Avenue, the view of the front entrance of the school is still the same as that of the original building of 1938.
The most recent addition to the school is the provision of a Nursery Unit by DENI.
Read more about this topic: Portstewart Primary School
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