ESB Science Blast is coming to Belfast this summer, and the hosts want as many primary schools as possible to get involved and celebrate the incredible scope of science. And the RDS (Ireland’s Philanthropic Society), which is behind the event, is offering help with travel costs for schools taking part.

The event, at Belfast Waterfront Hall on 05 and 06 June, offers a showcase for primary science projects, along with a day-long programme of educational entertainment, tailored for a primary school-aged audience. This year, this will include two BBC presenters on the amazing chemistry of food and the incredible possibilities of maths. (more…)

Over the past two decades, society has been transformed. We have witnessed changes that many, if not most of us, would have had difficulty imagining possible not so long ago. Continuing to build a transformed and more shared society is a key priority for government. Integrated education, which provides exciting opportunities for children and young people from different community backgrounds to learn together, has an important role to play in that process. (more…)

Many parents tell us they support integrated education – and more people are becoming aware that it is possible for schools to become integrated with parents’ support. Now the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) have produced Integration Works – A Short Guide to Integrated Education especially for parents. (more…)

Belfast City council is inviting residents to have their say on the draft Good Relations Strategy for the city.  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.”

The draft document places “Lack of integrated education and shared housing” top of the list of the biggest barriers to building better community and race relations in Belfast  and says:  “Some of the stresses which Belfast currently faces are … on-going community tensions in parts of the city, parallel service delivery… segregated education and housing…”  “The persistence of segregation and separation in Belfast has left significant challenges for policy makers. The majority of children are still educated in religiously separated schools and the majority of people in social housing still live in divided communities…” (more…)

The Department of Education has announced that Sixteen schools have been successful in the latest tranche of the School Enhancement Programme.

This is the second call of the School Enhancement Programme under which schools can benefit from refurbishment or extension projects, valued between £500,000 and £4 million. (more…)

Baroness May Blood MBE, Campaign Chair of the IEF, was special guest and keynote speaker at the annual breakfast hosted by the Irish American Partnership in Washington DC on Tuesday (08 January) to mark the traditional “Women’s Christmas”.  Nollaig na mBan is held each year in January throughout Ireland to celebrate women’s leadership within the family and the wider world.  May was invited as a leader with a positive impact on her community and beyond. (more…)