Students from three integrated schools were among the 22 NI recipients of the Diana Award yesterday (03 June 2019), an accolade presented to young people in recognition of inspirational social action or humanitarian work. The scheme, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, is now in its 20th year. Awards are given out by the Diana Award charity with the support of the Princess’ sons, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.

The awards were presented by Diana Award CEO Tessie Ojo at a ceremony in Stormont. (more…)

More children will experience integrated nursery education after the Department of Education approved an increase of 26 additional nursery places at Mill Strand Integrated Primary School in Portrush. The additional nursery places will be available in September this year, replacing voluntary playgroup provision at the school site and supplementing the 26 existing nursery places. (more…)

Omagh Integrated Primary School welcomed friends and supporters to the official opening of the children’s centre at the new integrated campus last Wednesday (22 May). John Fitzpatrick, hotelier and chair of the Ireland Funds, flew in especially to join Baroness May Blood, IEF campaign chair, to help celebrate the new facility, which he has supported from its inception.

Last week saw the official opening of the new 14-classroom primary school and a new nursery building, sited next to Drumragh Integrated College. (more…)

Two integrated schools in north Belfast welcomed some special visitors yesterday (20 May) to show them the work their pupils had been doing through the IEF Trust Programme. Sir Trevor Pears (Executive Chair) and Bridget McGing (Deputy Director) of the Pears Foundation, which supports the Trust scheme, met children and young people at Hazelwood Integrated College and Cliftonville Integrated Primary School to hear at first hand how the Foundation has helped with the development and exploration of the integrated ethos in many schools in the area. (more…)

Tina Merron, the Chief Executive of the IEF, has welcomed Ulster University’s proposals for a new, concerted effort to tackle sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

The university, supported by the Sir George Quigley Fund, launched ‘Sectarianism in Northern Ireland: a Review’ at a conference at the UU Belfast campus on Tuesday. Tina praised the conference for addressing the issue and welcomed comedian Patrick Kielty’s comments at the event that educating all children together is crucial to a shared future. (more…)

The IEF and LucidTalk presented results of a micro-poll of parental views in the Newtownards area on Wednesday 15 May in Ards Community Network. The poll has shown that Newtownards parents would like a school, for their children, which is openly welcoming to pupils from all sections of the community – and 69% of those questioned said they would support their local school becoming integrated. (more…)