Celebrating a 30 year history of excellence in the Claudy area
Cumber Claudy Controlled Primary School first opened its doors to 151 pupils on September 1 1994
Cumber Claudy Controlled Primary School first opened its doors to 151 pupils on September 1 1994.
The school was built to replace three primary schools in the area - Cumber Upper Maintained PS, Killaloo-Cumber Controlled PS and Straidarran Controlled PS.
The pupils of these three schools, along with 17 primary one children, enrolled in 1994.
Four of the seven teaching staff also transferred from the amalgamated schools.
At the time, it was the first primary school to be provided in the Western area in four years.
Its wide catchment area stretched from Kildoag to near Feeny village.
Joseph Martin, who was chief executive of the Western Education and Library Board, officially opened the school.
The red brick building, which sits on a site which was originally part of the Beaufort Estate, enjoys beautiful views across the Faughan Valley and Sperrin Mountains.
The two and a half acre site was purchased by the Western Education and Library Board in 1981 from Mr George Irwin at a cost of £11,250.
The building work commenced in the summer of 1993 and was completed one year later by Derry-based O’Neill Brothers Building Contractors at a cost of £710,000.
When the school opened, accommodation consisted of six classrooms, two resource areas, an assembly hall, a school meals kitchen, a staff room, two offices, a cloakroom, reception area, a boiler house and store.
Guests attending the official opening were welcomed by Rev Dr Ivan Wilson, who was chairman of the Board of Governors at the time.
The then Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Dr James Mehaffey conducted the opening prayer during the ceremony while a prayer of blessing was offered by Rev A. O’Neill, then Moderator of the Synod of Derry and Omagh.
Rev John Martin and Rev Norman Hunter were also present at the official opening.
During her speech, the then principal, Mrs Audrey Logan, described the opening as ‘an historic occasion’ for the residents of the Claudy area.
Referring to the fact that the new school was an amalgamation of three smaller primary schools in the surrounding area, Mrs Logan said that each of the schools had their own distinctive history and had served their respective communities faithfully over the years and ‘many affectionate memories of them would be preserved’.
It emerged that the opening of the school ‘saw a fulfilment of an idea’ formed 20 years previously.
Mrs Logan stated at the time that she felt ‘extremely honoured’ to have been appointed as the first principal of the school and also paid tribute to the parents of pupils who she said had offered so much support.
“The demands of education are constantly changing and as you look around you will agree Cumber Claudy is clearly a school that is well equipped with resources and has an attractive, modern environment to greatly enhance the quality of our pupils’ educational experiences,” said Mrs Logan at the time.
“We have indeed an excellent starting point from which to embark on this challenging new phase of education in the Claudy area - an exciting new beginning with many stimulating new challenges and opportunities.”
It is regarded as ‘a special place full of learning, laughter and friendship where everyone is happy, feels safe and is valued’.
At Cumber Claudy Primary School the children come first and they are at the centre of everything staff do.
The school strives for high standards in teaching, learning and behaviour and are committed to ensuring that all pupils aim to be the best they can be and that their time at the school is a happy and memorable one.