Today marks a significant day for the school community of Downshire Nursery School in Banbridge, as parents have voted in favour of the school transforming to Integrated status.
Downshire Nursery School is a well-established nursery school, offering an excellent standard of education and care for up to 52 pupils, aged between three and four years old. The school motto is ‘Playing together, laughing together, inspiring each other to learn.’ This inclusive approach to education is what encouraged the school community to look at the process of Transformation, to become an Integrated school.
Kathryn Campbell, Principal of Downshire Nursery School, commented:
“The Governors, staff, parents and pupils of Downshire Nursery School are delighted with the result of the Integration ballot. On my appointment to Downshire Nursery School, the spirit of integration was clearly apparent within the school. To create a pathway of choice for parents from the first steps of their child’s educational journey is of huge importance to us as a school community.
Downshire Nursery School has always welcomed children of all abilities from all faiths and cultures and this official step to become an Integrated nursery school demonstrates the support within the local community. We are very much looking forward to working with the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) to proceed through the process to become fully Integrated.
We have been providing high quality Pre-school education for over forty years and we look forward with pride and positivity to the next forty.”
No school can become Integrated without the consent of a majority of parents. Therefore, in order to begin the process to become an Integrated school, a democratic ballot must be held and the majority of parents must vote in favour of the change in status.
The ballot was carried out by Civica Election Services, and every adult registered as a parent or guardian was eligible to vote.
At Downshire Nursery School 94% of parents voted for the school to change to Integrated status.
Tina Merron, Chief Executive of the Integrated Education Fund, said:
“We applaud the result this parental ballot at Downshire Nursery School. Downshire Nursery School, along with Bridge Integrated Primary School and New Bridge Integrated College, will become part of a growing network of schools in offering Integrated Education in the Banbridge area.
We commend the Board of Governors for giving their parents this opportunity. The results from other parental ballots held in recent years suggest that when parents are informed and engaged on the issue of Integrated status for their child’s school, then an overwhelming majority tend to vote in favour. This is most encouraging and reflects the results of many public attitude surveys held on this important issue.”
Roisin Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), said:
“It is great to see an increase in demand for Integrated Education in the Banbridge area. NICIE is pleased to see parents voting yes for Integrated status at Downshire Nursery and we look forward to working with the school on their Transformation journey.”
The next step for the school will be compiling a Development Proposal, which will be submitted to the Department of Education including a Transformation Action Plan. A Minister for Education, or in their absence the Permanent Secretary, will then make the final decision.
Almost every school in the country, apart from hospital and special schools, can apply to Transform to Integrated status and the parental ballot is a major step in this journey. The IEF and Council for Integrated Education provide support and advice for parents, staff and Governors considering taking the first steps to Integrated Education.
If you would like further information on Integrated Education and the process of Transformation, please visit our website at ief.org.uk
