Edmonton now has facilities ‘for the generations of the future’

From facing the risk of closure to the opening of a new extension and high tech refurbishment, Edmonton National School has experienced a remarkable upturn in fortunes over the last decade.

The school began a new chapter in its history yesterday morning when the students returned from their Easter holidays to a completely revamped learning facility that principal Martin Hanly says will meet the educational needs of local children “for generations to come”.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Mr Hanly said that the project, which was designed by Patrick Weafer and built by Maurice McCormack, has captured the imagination of the close-knit community at a time when good news has been thin on the ground.

“It’s definitely a focal point and a talking point in our vicinity, this new school and new build. It’s quite a modern structure and design. As they drive past it people are meant to stop and look and say ‘wow, isn’t that amazing in the middle of the countryside’.

“The whole facade of the old school has been replaced and refurbished. The old white PVC is now completely gone and it’s been replaced by insulated walls and triple glazed windows. It’s been completely re-insulated, re-floored and refurnished inside and out. Even the roof has been replaced and painted to match the new build. There are even photovoltaic panels that will generate electricity on sunny days. Whatever facilities they have in a new-build school, we have here as well.

“We were talking to a local person who said that this is the fourth time that the school has been extended or renovated. The first school on the site was built in the 1850s, then after that there was another small structure built to the front of the site, and then in 1965, the existing building was put in place by the department. Now in 2021 the whole surface area of the school has been doubled in size again.”

For more than a decade, the school’s junior and senior infant classes shared a prefab, as did the older pupils in fifth and sixth classes. Parts of the prefabs were also used for special needs classes. Mr Hanley says the students now have the “warm, safe, secure classrooms” that they deserve.

“There is great excitement. Everyone knows what prefabs are like in the winter and they are the complete opposite in the summer, when they are too warm. They don’t have to worry about that any more. Children attending special education will also now have two new, purpose-built classrooms as well and it is also the first time that the teachers will have a proper, purpose-built staffroom as well.”

The last year has been challenging for all schools, but the repeated lockdowns and the transition to remote learning were a lot less problematic for the teachers and pupils at Edmonton NS, its principal says.

“We were well placed because we have been using Google Classroom for three or four years. The minute the schools closed, we transitioned [straight away]. We closed on the Thursday, and on the Monday, the children had full lessons taking place – which was fantastic.

“During the most recent closure, we had all of our live lessons on Google Meet. We definitely would be a Google school for want of a better word,” Mr Hanly said.

The principal for 11 years, at the time of his appointment the future of the school looked anything but certain due to its declining student numbers. Looking ahead, Mr Hanly is confident that Edmonton National School will remain an integral part of the community that it is so firmly rooted in.

“Ten years ago we were faced with the possibility of a closure or going from being a three- to a two-teacher school and now we are at a four-teacher school. At the moment, 98 pupils are enrolled, while 10 years ago we had 49.

“I hope that this new build will secure the future of the school well into the years ahead, that we won’t be facing the possibility of dropping teachers or possible closures that were being mooted 10 or 11 years ago. It’s something for the generations to come.”

A festive opening

The parents association at Edmonton National School pulled out all the socially distanced stops to celebrate the opening of the schools new classrooms yesterday morning.

There was most definitely a festive feel to proceedings with balloons, music and treats provided for students, who also received special souvenir key rings.

After years of having to make do with facilities that stretched the definition of fit for purpose, Mr Hanly said it was a momentous day for the entire school community.

“I used to envy other rural schools in the area when they were getting their renovations. It’s our turn now, thank goodness,” he said.