THE historic St Malachy's College has become the first school to hand over its premises to help the fight against coronavirus.
The north Belfast grammar school has agreed a request to allow its building to support the work of medical staff caring for Covid-19 patients in the nearby Mater Hospital.
The Mater is one of three main coronavirus centres in Belfast and it backs onto the St Malachy's site on Antrim Road.
Principal Paul McBride said a decision had been made to hand over the college premises, mainly showers and changing facilities, to be used by healthcare workers.
As a result, St Malachy's is no longer available to accommodate children of key-workers. To date, it has had a very small uptake from parents requiring supervision for their sons but has remained open with a skeleton staff.
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Any pupils in Year 8-10 that still require supervision will attend Dominican College instead from today.
"All of us at the college should be pleased and indeed proud that we can allow our historic buildings and impressive facilities to support the NHS and play a vital role in the fight against the silent enemy Covid-19," Mr McBride wrote to parents.
"I thank parents for all their messages of support and comments appreciating the efforts of staff who are continuing to work in school and remotely.
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"I am very grateful to Dominican College for offering their premises and services to allow us to help out our health service."
In a separate letter, Dominican College principal Lynda Catney told parents of the new partnership.
"Both schools have had a very small uptake from parents requiring supervision for their children but this may grow in the next few weeks with the increasing strain on the NHS and key workers," she said.
"The board of governors of Dominican College is very keen to provide whatever help is needed to the staff and pupils of St Malachy's College, which will enable them to support the NHS and play a vital role in the fight against Covid-19. I am sure that everyone in our Dominican school community will give their full support to this arrangement. We will continue to observe the highest standards of hygiene as well as rules on social distancing."
Meanwhile, the number of schools open for key workers' children has fallen to its lowest total to date. On Monday there were 732 children being looked after in 387 schools across the north.
Close to 300 schools have said they will open during the Easter holiday period, which is due to begin on Thursday. More than 1,000 young people are expected to attend.
