Imagine sending your kids to a school where the roof is falling apart and walls are crumbling, despite constant pleas for help. That’s the alarming reality for one Co Tyrone school, whose principal is calling out education authorities for their baffling inaction. Our community deserves better, but when will official bodies finally step up?

A Northern Ireland primary school is at the centre of a deepening crisis, with its principal directly accusing education authorities of “continued neglect” as pupils prepare to return to a building plagued by severe structural issues. This alarming situation at Blessed Patrick O’Loughran PS in Castlecaulfield highlights a critical failure in the provision of safe and fit-for-purpose learning environments, despite repeated pleas for urgent maintenance.

The list of unaddressed problems at the school, which remarkably opened only in 2002, is extensive and poses significant health and safety risks. Detailed reports include rotten fascia and barge boards, crumbling plaster on classroom walls, and large pieces of cement detaching from the roof. Furthermore, a persistent water leak in one classroom has led to ceiling tiles collapsing, underscoring the immediate danger to students and staff.

Principal Michelle McGauley, in a candid open letter addressed to parents, guardians, and local representatives, conveyed profound frustration at the Education Authority’s persistent inaction. Despite numerous appeals for essential safety works, the Co Tyrone education establishment has reportedly been ignored, forcing the school community to confront dire conditions that compromise the well-being and learning experience of its young pupils.

In stark contrast to the perceived official neglect, Ms. McGauley expressed immense gratitude for the proactive support from her community fundraising efforts. Parents, past pupils, and local businesses have repeatedly stepped forward, providing vital resources where official channels have failed. Their “extremely proactive” fundraising, including initiatives like Cash for Kids, has generated over £30,000 for crucial ICT equipment and an additional £30,000 from external grants for playground and sensory garden equipment.

Ms. McGauley forcefully argued that these are not minor issues but “essential works that fall under the duty of care of the Education Authority, and their continued neglect is indefensible.” The Education Authority NI was first informed of these structural building issues in early 2023, and assurances were given in March 2025 that repairs would be completed before the new academic year. Yet, as pupils return, the necessary funding approval remains elusive, leaving the school in a precarious state.

The school’s challenges are further compounded by a significant increase in enrolment, with pupil numbers rising by 50 in the last two decades to 126 for the upcoming academic year. This growth places additional strain on already inadequate facilities. Once again, the community’s generosity shone through, with volunteers and local businesses providing labour, equipment, expertise, and even financial credit to construct an additional classroom, demonstrating unparalleled dedication amidst the school neglect.

The principal’s letter serves as both a plea for assistance and a powerful statement of accountability, asserting that the Education Authority has failed in its fundamental duty to Blessed Patrick O’Loughran PS. Echoing the school’s motto, “Small Hands, Big Futures,” Ms. McGauley passionately states that children “deserve better, and our community should not be left to shoulder the responsibilities,” demanding that the authority finally honour its obligations to Northern Ireland schools.

Mid-Ulster councillor Kevin McElvogue has also joined the call for immediate action, confirming the severity of the structural building issues. Following a meeting with Education Authority maintenance officers in March, he too was assured that the critical repairs would be carried out during the summer holidays. Councillor McElvogue branded the situation a “major health and safety issue,” emphasizing that a primary school must be a safe environment for everyone within its walls.