Congratulations are due to Hazelwood Integrated College in North Belfast as one of the winners of this year’s Derrytrasna Awards. This scheme celebrates school communities who show exceptional pastoral care for the emotional health and wellbeing of pupils and their families. The scheme is run by the Department of Education and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Presenting the awards today (08 April) at Stormont, Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education, said:

“The quality of this year’s nominations is testament to the high level of pastoral care being provided in our schools and reflects the high regard local communities have for their schools. Young people, as they grow up, face so many challenges and it is reassuring that, for some, their school is a source of reassurance and support. (more…)

The Department of Education has announced an extension to the appointment of the Chairperson and the appointment of 12 members to the Board of the Education Authority (EA).

Eleven are current members of the board with one new board member being appointed.

Chairperson
Ms Sharon O’Connor previously served as Chairperson on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. She was formerly Chief Executive of Derry City Council. Ms O’Connor currently holds two other public appointments: member of the National Oversight & Audit Commission (ROI), for which she receives remuneration of €7,695 per annum and member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, for which she receives £265 per day. She has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past 5 years.
Members (more…)

The Integrated Education Fund has submitted a response to the Belfast City Council consultation on its draft Good Relations Strategy for the city, and would encourage members of the wider IE movement to submit their responses before the consultation closes on 11 April 2019.

The strategy has been developed to provide the framework for building better community and race relations during the period of the Belfast Agenda, which sets out a vision of the city in 2035.

The council states that the aim is to develop “A Shared City…delivering inclusive growth that leaves no one behind.” (more…)

Following the publication of the Department of Education document “Integration Works” – which presents guidance and information for schools considering becoming integrated, NICIE and the IEF held an information event on Tue 12 March 2019. (more…)

There were celebrations and smiles in Millennium Integrated Primary School as it received confirmation that a new multi-million-pound build on the current site of the primary school would take place.

The decision was taken by the Department of Education and approved by the Department of Finance as part of the Fresh Start Agreement money that was promised to Integrated and Shared Education.

Millennium Integrated Primary has been providing integrated education in the Carryduff and Saintfield areas since opening with just 10 children in September 2000. The school moved to its present site in 2003 and continued oversubscription led the school to going to double enrolment in September 2013. In September 2019, the school’s enrolment will be 365 children in the primary with another 52 children in the nursery school. (more…)

Parents at Carrickfergus Central Primary School have voted overwhelmingly to take the school on the path to becoming officially integrated.

The school’s principal and board took the step of balloting parents after they found evident interest in integration among the school community. The vote (run by the Electoral Reform Services between 11th and 25th February 2019) showed 86% support for integration through the process known as “transformation.” (more…)