The Strule Shared Education Campus is one of the most ambitious and transformative education projects in Northern Ireland. Bringing together six post-primary schools from across the maintained, controlled, grammar, and special educational needs sectors, the campus will be a place where young people learn side by side while retaining the ethos and identity of their individual schools.
Subculture Media was commissioned to create a short film for the official sod-cutting ceremony, marking the beginning of the campus construction. The film needed to convey the scale and significance of the project while capturing the voices of the young people who will benefit most from this forward-looking approach to education.
With its focus on collaboration, inclusion, and opportunity, Strule will deliver a 21st century curriculum in state-of-the-art facilities. Our challenge was to create a piece that communicated not just the facts, but the feeling behind the project. We wanted to capture a sense of pride, hope, and community.
We worked closely with the project team and school representatives to shape a film that included contributions from all six schools: Arvalee School and Resource Centre, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy Grammar School, Omagh High School, and Sacred Heart College.
Filming took place across each of the school sites, capturing day-to-day classroom activity and shared education sessions involving students from different backgrounds. We filmed using a cinematic style, incorporating slow-motion shots, natural light, and carefully composed visuals to create an uplifting and professional feel. The goal was to let the students and their environments speak for themselves.
To help tell the story, we supported the development of a script that reflected the aspirations and emotions behind the project. The final script was voiced by two students, giving the film an authentic tone and making it clear that this campus is being built with young people at its heart.
We also captured aerial footage of the Omagh site, showing the location where the new campus will be built. These shots helped to give a sense of place and scale, while showing the physical connection between the schools and the shared future that lies ahead.
Every decision, from the tone of the narration to the pace of the edit, was made to reflect the energy, optimism, and inclusivity that define the project.
The finished film was played at the sod-cutting ceremony and served as a powerful way to mark the beginning of construction. With cinematic visuals, youth-led narration, and carefully crafted messaging, the video highlighted the promise of shared education in a way that felt emotional, hopeful, and grounded in the voices of real students.
By hearing directly from young people and seeing the schools working together, viewers were able to connect with the broader social and educational value of the Strule campus. The film made it clear that this is more than a school building. It is a step forward for community, inclusion, and the future of education in the region.
Feedback from the event and from those involved in the project was overwhelmingly positive. The video continues to be used to promote the vision of the campus and to engage stakeholders in the long-term potential of this once-in-a-generation initiative.
