The former Balnamore Primary School is set to receive a new lease of life as a permanent dual-campus site for Sandelford School, with the refurbished facility expected to become fully operational in early 2027.
The Education Authority confirmed that the site will accommodate Sandelford pupils, including early years provision, as part of efforts to expand specialist educational provision in the Ballymoney area.
The announcement was welcomed by the local DUP Councillors Darryl Wilson and John McAuley, along with Leigh Gerrow and Lynsey Blair.
Balnamore Primary School closed after a significant and sustained decline in pupil numbers. The Department of Education approved the closure proposal in January 2025 following consideration of the school’s long-term sustainability.
The closure was met with disappointment in Balnamore and the wider Ballymoney community, where the school had served generations of local families.
However, the local representatives agreed it was important that the site continued to support education rather than remain vacant.
The development comes amid growing demand for specialist educational provision across North Antrim. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that 291 pupils from the North Antrim constituency were travelling outside their local area to access specialist education.
The Education Authority had identified the creation of a dual-campus site for Sandelford School in Ballymoney as part of plans to provide more support for children closer to home.
While Ballymoney already has specialist provision within several mainstream schools, the DUP Councillors said additional capacity was still required. They added that lengthy daily journeys could place an extra burden on children with additional and complex needs, as well as their families.
The new Balnamore campus is expected to allow more pupils to access specialist education and support closer to their homes, families and wider community.
The local representatives described the announcement as “hugely welcome news” for Balnamore and Ballymoney, particularly for children with special educational needs and their families.
They said the project would place education back at the heart of the Balnamore community and confirmed that they looked forward to welcoming Sandelford School pupils, families and staff to the site in 2027.
