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LearningNews from the Integrated Education Movement in Northern Ireland

We’re very pleased to welcome the newestaddition to the family - Crumlin PrimarySchool has been granted provisionalintegrated status from September thisyear. Staff and parents say it’s a naturalstep for the school which has alwayswelcomed all sections of the community.Pictured is the new school badge, drawnfrom the children’s ideas and approved in apupil vote.

To support schools and communities whoare interested in exploring integration, anew programme of grants to help schoolsto transform, or to look into the possibilityof transformation, has opened this autumn.The Integrated Education Fund is committedto supporting and facilitating the growth ofintegrated education and we seetransformation as a crucial part of thiscampaign. To alert parents to the optionsavailable to them, there will be a majorproject to increase awareness, directing thepublic to an improved and updated website

for full information on the support availableand how to apply. It will also be a platformfor staff and students to talk about theirexperiences of the transformation process.Recent studies show the majority of schoolsare involved in cross-community projectsand activities, and new leaflets will begoing out to every school in NorthernIreland to alert staff and governors tointegration as, potentially, the next step inprogressing our communities towards amore cohesive and peaceful future for ourchildren.

Exploring Transformation

Pupils at Crumlin IPS helped to create the new school logo for their first year as an integrated school

Parkhall IC in Antrim also recently transformed tointegrated status

2010Issue 13Autumn/Winter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE- More Integrated Places

Needed To Meet Demand

- Down Royal Fundraiser A Success

- Queen’s Award ForRowandale IPS

- The Economic Case ForIntegrated Education

- Success For IntegratedSchools At The Teacher OfThe Year Awards

- Carson AwardsProgramme Launched

If you have any stories that you

would like us to include in future newsletters please

contact Siobhán McKenna at IEF or Denise Morgan at NICIE.

Email: [email protected]: 028 9033 0031

Email: [email protected]: 028 9023 6200

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Learning Together Issue 13 2010

Girls ‘n’ GolfPartnershipProgramme -Drumragh IntegratedCollege

Drumragh Integrated College, inpartnership with Omagh Golf Cluband Junior Golf Ireland, launchedthe ‘Girls ‘n’ Golf’ 2010 tasterprogramme, designed to introducepost-primary girls to the sport.Junior Golf Ireland developed theprogramme to increase golfawareness among teenage girls,and boost the number of girlstaking golf club membership.

The ten-week programme isdelivered through a 3-waypartnership between the golf clubleaders, teachers and PGA coach,Liam McCool. The sessions focuson basic technical instructionwith the emphasis on fun; pitchand putt gives the girls a tasteof on-course golf at anelementary level. They are alsointroduced to club proceduresby the club’s junior coachingteam.

Upon completion of theprogramme, the Drumragh ICgirls attended a Gala Day withother schools nationwide.Junior Golf Ireland hasestablished a number of‘membership scholarships’and successful femaleapplicants benefit fromdiscounted/free golf clubmembership. Theprogramme caters forchildren of all abilities,and will soon be openingat Arvalee School whichspecialises in work withpupils with learningdifficulties.

Congratulations ToPupils On Exam SuccessThe high achievement of integrated studentshas continued this year, with OakgroveIntegrated College celebrating in particular thesuccess of John Fox and Emer Curley who haveboth gained places at the University ofCambridge.

Many pupils gained the new A* grade includingV’cenza Cirefice from Shimna Integrated Collegewho gained an astounding 3 A*s at A level andan A at AS level. Shimna has seen additionalachievement among its pupils this year, throughscholarships to Aberdeen and LiverpoolUniversities.

Hazelwood Integrated College is delighted with results that show both boys and girls are reaching theirfull potential, and that newcomer students are thriving in the school. The two top GCSE candidates wereAndrew Chung and Michael McCullough who both achieved 2 A*s, 7As and 1B.

These are just a few examples of the success enjoyed by our colleges around Northern Ireland. Moredetails can be found on the IEF website: www.ief.org.uk

Staff in the integrated sector are quick to point out that students from all-ability schools drive thecontinually improving results in Northern Ireland. Every school, regardless of status, follows the samecurriculum. The high expectations of pupils and the positive learning environment provided inintegrated schools, ensure that all students have opportunities to fulfil their potential.

Integrated Schools MakeA Colourful Welcome ToGarden ShowVisitors who thronged to Garden Show Ireland atHillsborough in May were greeted by the gardener’sbest friends – scarecrows - all in a row.

Children at 18 integrated primary schools competed toproduce the best scarecrow. The resulting charactersincluded Cher, Posh and Becks, Darth Vader, Harry Hilland Johnny Depp. These scruffy people were a strikingsight for visitors, many of whom commented on theskill and imagination of the children involved.

Scarecrow Street formed a very special area of theshow, sponsored by Allianz. Prizes were trees kindlydonated by CAFRE Greenmount Campus and they werepresented at a ceremony at Millennium IntegratedPrimary School in September.

Best overall: Bill and Ben – Millennium IPS

Most Eco Friendly: Eco Eddie – Bridge IPS

Scariest: Darth Crow – Rowandale IPS

Highly Commended: The Auld Man of theGlens – Ballycastle IPS

Best Celeb Lookalike: Neil Armstrong –(Ballymoney IPS) and Lady Gaga (Bridge IPS)

Highly commended: Cher Crow (Drumlins IPS);Sponge Bob (Carhill IPS); Harry Hill (LoughView IPS); Marge Simpson (Ballymoney IPS)

Happy students, Uaine Horan-Maybaum and RachelSkillen from Shimna IC celebrate their exam success

Drumragh IC girls golf team

The Usual Suspects

Bill and Ben helped Millennium IPS to win BestOverall Scarecrow

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Year 8 Boys BowledOver By Their Success

Parkhall Integrated College’s Year 8cricket team has been celebratingafter a very successful first seasontogether. In the Wesley FerrisMemorial Trophy the team reachedthe final, only to be narrowlybeaten by Inchmarlo by only fourruns. The boys also finishedrunners-up in the newly-formedEast Antrim Year 8 Cricket League,sponsored by Parkhall IC.

In this league they defeatedCarrick Grammar, Ballyclare Highand Belfast High only losing tothe eventual winners GrosvenorGrammar School.

The team is shown displayingtheir medals, proud of theirachievement in what was a newsport to some players. They aremaintaining Parkhall IC’s recordof success in cricket which hasbeen established over the lastdecade.

PuttingIntegratedSchools First

The most over-subscribedschools in Northern Irelandare integrated: SlemishIntegrated College, inBallymena, had 93 morefirst-choice applicants thancould be accommodated,whilst Lagan College, inCastlereagh, turned away87 pupils who had putthem first on their list.And the primary schoolwhich turned away thehighest number of first-choice applicants – 21 -was Bridge Integrated Primary School inBanbridge.

A written answer to the Northern IrelandAssembly last month showed the number ofpupils in each board area who had not beenadmitted to their first choice of primary or post-primary school, and which individual schoolshad turned away first-choice applicants. Intotal, 95 primary applicants and 410 second-level applicants got turned down from anintegrated school as their first choice .

In the Western Board area only Lumen Christiturned away more first-choice applicants thanDrumragh Integrated College. In the South-Eastern Board area, All Children’s IPS was themost over-subscribed primary school, withmore than a third of those disappointed in thatarea having applied to an integrated primaryas their first choice.

This supports our position, that integratededucation reflects the demand of thecommunity, and has to be expanded to meetthat demand.

Newman’s Own FoundationBacks The Development OfSpecial Needs SupportMillennium Integrated Primary School is looking forward todeveloping a multi-sensory facility, after being awarded agenerous grant from the Newman’s Own Foundation Fund. TheFund has donated $12,500 to the project, which will enhance theeducation experience of pupils with special needs.

Multi-sensory rooms offer a range of visual, aural and tactile areas, giving opportunities for relaxation orstimulation. Two integrated primary schools – Cranmore IPS and Oakwood IPS already have thesefacilities, and teachers speak of the benefits they bring to everyone. Children who get stressed in thesocial environment of the classroom can take “time out” to engage in physical play and exploration orrelaxation. It also means calmer classrooms for the whole school.

Newman’s Own Foundation is a private,independent foundation established by PaulNewman that continues his commitment to donateall net profits and royalties earned from the sale ofNewman’s Own products to charity.

The application to Newman’s Own Foundation wasfacilitated by IEF donors Burgess and Patricia Winterwho are long-standing supporters of the Newman’sOwn Foundation.

Paul Newman was committed to helping make theworld a better place. To date, Paul Newman andNewman’s Own Foundation have given over $295million to thousands of charities around the world.For more information, visitwww.newmansownfoundation.org.

Pupils from Slemish IC on a recent day trip

(L to R) Robert Forrester, President of Newman’s Own Foundation,presents a cheque for $12,500 to IEF volunteers and donors Kathi Scott,Noshin Sultan, Patricia Winters, Nicola Schlatter and Burgess Winters.

Parkhall IC Year 8 cricket team

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‘All Aboard’ ForIntegrated Education

Supporters of the IntegratedEducation Fund boarded the HMSBelfast in London in September tolearn more about the currentactivities of the IEF and enjoy a funevening of music, food andconversation. The event was arelaxed and informal occasionproviding an ideal opportunity tomeet new people interested in thecampaign and also to catch upwith many of our existingsupporters across the water.

Guests were piped onto the BoatDeck where they enjoyed thechance to tour this remarkableship with a famous history andassociation with Belfast.Baroness Blood, Campaign Chair,addressed the guests andappealed for their continuedsupport in this vital stage of theFundraising Campaign. It wasespecially good to see anumber of former pupils ofintegrated schools at the eventwho spoke to fellow guestsabout their experiences of anintegrated education.

Students Urged To Get CreativeThe Carson Awards Programme 2010/2011 is now open. TheAwards, run by the Integrated Education Fund, are supported bylegendary comedian Frank Carson and his son Tony and are now in their third year. They aim to encourage and support thecreative talents of young people in integrated schools and havetwo elements:

1. The Carson Bursaries – open to Year 12, 13 and 14 students at integrated colleges and, ifapplicable, collaborative partners. Bursaries provide resources for students to carry out acreative project under the theme ‘What Integration Means to Me’.

2. The Carson Prize – open to allstudents of Integrated PrimarySchools and Second LevelColleges and, if applicable,collaborative partners.Completed creative projects,under the theme ‘WhatIntegration Means to Me’, maybe entered for The Carson Prize.

Please visit the IEF website atwww.ief.org.uk for moreinformation and for entry andapplication forms, or if youwould like to discuss a projectin more detail please contactSuzie Smyth at the IEF [email protected]

Petal Power For Integrated EducationThe Integrated EducationFund is delighted to welcomea particularly glamoroussupporter to our campaigningand fundraising: FrancesRafferty, who was crownedthe Belfast Rose in this year’sRose of Tralee InternationalFestival, has adopted the IEF asher charity of the year.

Frances, who taught at UlidiaIntegrated College last year, hasjust started work as a PE teacherat Strangford Integrated College.Displaying a total commitment tointegration, she will continue topromote and fundraise for the IEFas she carries out her public duties.Frances says “We live in segregatedareas, play different sports and go todifferent schools.....the way to abrighter future is through integratedand inclusive schooling.”

Before travelling to County Kerry forthe final stages of judging in the Roseof Tralee International Festival, Francestook time to relax among the roses inLady Dixon Park, in Belfast, where shemet some children from integratedschools.

Pictured at the event are Shira Barnett, Anne Cooke, David Cooke and Peter Barnett

The Belfast Rose, Frances Rafferty with pupils from Glengormley IPS

Frank and Tony Carson get ready to judge the latest round of Awards entries!

The

for Integrated EducationCarsonAwards

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The ‘Best Way To SayThank You’ –Celebrating OurTeachers

The Teaching Awards 2010 – “thebest way to say ‘Thank you!’” –celebrated the achievements ofinspirational people working inseveral integrated schools. Thisscheme highlights the successesof teachers, governors and schoolteams working in all sectorsthroughout Northern Ireland andthe UK.

The awards are presented inrecognition of the dedication ofstaff in the education sector.Teaching Assistant, KathrynMcMurray, from OakwoodIntegrated Primary School, wasa very worthy recipient of oneof only ten ‘Plato’ Awards.

Other deserving finalists fromintegrated schools who pickedup awards included JoanMcAllister and AlanMcDonnell from ShimnaIntegrated College andStephen McKernan, Principalof Phoenix IntegratedPrimary School.

Schools Celebrating Diversity AndSupporting Newcomers

The Integrated Education Fund has been fortunateto secure support from the Open Society Foundationto run projects helping schools explore issuesaround diversity. The project, which has been apartnership with the Northern Ireland Council forIntegrated Education, aims to develop ways to makenewcomer pupils and their families feel welcome.

In January 2010 a small grants programme openedto all integrated schools to enable them toundertake projects looking at how they present theirschool community to newcomer pupils. The resultshave included the installation of multilingualsignage, days of cultural celebration sharing thefoods and traditions represented within their schooland developing resources to help communicate withnewcomer pupils and their families. In someschools projects will continue throughout thisacademic year.

In June students from integrated colleges acrossNorthern Ireland met South Belfast MLA Anna Lo atStormont at a conference inviting young people to‘Think, Say, Do...Become an Active Citizen’. It gaveyear 10 pupils the opportunity to exploreways to increase their participation inpromoting a shared society, both within andoutside school. After a tour of ParliamentBuildings, the delegates took part inworkshops run by organisations such asAmnesty International, the EqualityCommission and the National Children’sBureau. They also heard a past pupil ofLagan College, Ayca Lacey, talk about herexperience of arriving in Belfast from Turkeyand speaking very little English. She toldthe students how school life played a hugepart in helping her settle into society here.

As part of a wider EU FundingProgramme, Hazelwood IntegratedCollege was the venue for a ‘Citizens’Panel’. The event took place against thebackdrop of suspected racist attacks in thewider community, and in the context ofnew figures showing a huge increase in thenumber of newcomer pupils in NorthernIreland’s schools. The audience heard hard-hitting testimonies from pupils of differentbackgrounds, who gave presentations ontheir experience of racism and ignorance.The event gave pupils and their guests thechance to discuss the challenges of anincreasingly diverse culture, and put theirpoints to a high-profile panel at a ‘QuestionTime’ forum, including representatives fromthe PSNI, Newtownabbey and Belfast Councilsand the Mayor of Newtownabbey Borough.Hazelwood IC was able to show how theycelebrate diversity, offering a range ofinternational foods, with drama and art workdemonstrating the multicultural environment atHazelwood IC. The work to explore diversity willcontinue throughout the year.

Teaching Assistant of the Year, KathrynMcMurray from Oakwood IPS

Shimna IC staff Joan McAllisterand Alan McDonnell were also

finalists at the teachingawards 2010

South Belfast MLA, Anna Lo, chatted with Jamie Brannigan from Shimna IC and Sharon McMullan from BlackwaterIC during the Open Society conference at Stormont

On the question time panel at Hazelwood IC were: Laura Hamill (Belfast City Council), Clare Fox (Newtownabbey Borough Council), Brendan O’Loan(Hazelwood IC) and PSNI sergeant Brian Caskey 5



Shared Education – GettingMore For Less?As the public sector faces the most stringent cuts in ageneration or more, it’s crucial to examine how we usetaxpayers’ money. Public spending as well as private industrycame under scrutiny at the annual Northern Ireland EconomicConference in September, with analyst Graeme Harrisonpresenting a paper on ‘Developing the Economic Case forShared Education’. His initial research gives weight to theIntegrated Education Movement’s call for a thorough debate onhow education is structured and delivered in Northern Ireland.We are calling for a creative approach to working with arestricted budget; it seems obvious that bringing childrentogether in an atmosphere of mutual respect andunderstanding makes both social and economic sense.

Graeme Harrison addressed an audience of politicians and other keydecision-makers. Fellow speakers included senior economists andindustrialists, Sammy Wilson, the Minister of Finance and Personnel,and Kathryn Thomson, of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

As the budget issue is so relevant to education, the IEF was keen tobe represented and was proud to be named as one of the sponsorsof the conference. Among the delegates was Baroness May Blood,IEF Campaign Chair, who wanted to grasp the opportunity to letpolicy-makers hear her view that integration and sharing mustshape the future of schools here. Integration...

But No Education?The executive over the summer finally published a proposalfor Cohesion, Sharing and Integration; a document whichunderwent a long gestation period up at Stormont, andwhich follows the ‘Shared Future’ strategy which waspublished in 2005. The new programme has had a mixedreception, with many people welcoming the aspiration for agreater degree of cross-community living and learning, butthere have been questions raised at consultation meetingsas to its lack of concrete targets. At a political level, there isa ‘chicken and egg’ argument going on over whetherequality takes precedence as an issue over sharing andmutual respect. Although the paper acknowledges the roleschools can play, and specifically mentions integration, thereseems to be less prominence given to education than wesaw in ‘A Shared Future’. Recent events in Northern Irelandhave prompted widespread comment to the effect thatcohesion and integration must start early in life.

The IEF and the supporters of integrated schools arecommitted to seeing children share their early experiencesof learning and play in an environment which respects andaccommodates diversity.

The period of public consultation on the proposals has been followed by a series of focused meetings on the issuesraised in the CSI document held including, after somelobbying of the OFMDFM, education and the churches. Weshall be doing all we can to contribute to the debate andensure education is given rightful prominence in drawing upa strategy for CSI and we urge supporters to help us makethe point.

6



Personally Speaking:Two students from Ulidia Integrated College describe the opportunities their

education has offered them, and how they have grown through their experiences:

Diversity In Action by Tuesday Howe

I arrived at Ulidia IC a shy child, content to linger in the shadow of my peers bothacademically and socially. Six years on, I am Head Prefect, juggling three A Levels withmentoring and public speaking.

Through school came the biggest opportunity of my life - via my local Rotary Club and itsYouth Leadership Development Competition. The winners get to visit Strasbourg forEuroscola Day and learn how the European Parliament and Commission work. Afterseveral interviews and some tricky competition, I was chosen as a Finalist. So lastFebruary I joined 23 other young people from all over Ireland - and discovered that I wasthe first student from an integrated school ever to win a place on the trip. It was great tobe able to discuss education with my new friends, and to challenge some of their ideas.

The highlight of the week was Euroscola Day. This brings together 700 young people fromthe 27 EU Member States. Sitting in the Hemicycle, in seat 333 on the Liberal andDemocrat side of the house, I felt that my voice may actually be heard!

The Irish team definitely made our presence felt, as we took several official positions andwere vocal in debates. Each of us left the Parliament feeling a tremendous sense ofachievement; we had explored new opinions and celebrated diversity. I felt very proud of myintegrated school: we don’t just celebrate diversity on occasion; it is central to our way of life.

The St Albans Experience by Christopher Madden

It began at school in Carrickfergus, when some of us were invitedto meet Paul Mulgrew, a young man from Belfast who hadattended the prestigious St Albans School in Washington DC. StAlbans wanted to offer the same opportunity to another NorthernIrish boy, with financial backing from Irish-American philanthropist,Jack McDonnell. After several interviews, I was told my life wasabout to change. In September 2008 I set off for DC.

American dorm-life was a challenge at first; I even had to do myown laundry! The timetable is rigorous: breakfast at 7.15 am, classesfrom eight until one-thirty and sport every afternoon. After dinnerit’s supervised study for two hours. But there’s a strong sense ofcameraderie, and I’ve even learned to enjoy the two hours of dailysport!

The US education system is very different. At home one examdetermines your final grade; in America monthly tests, weeklyquizzes, and class participation all count. The relationship betweenthe teachers and students is great. For example, I found manyconcepts in economics hard to grasp, but my teacher often came inat weekends to help.

Living in DC has been fantastic. For President Obama’s inauguration,I won tickets to seats outside the White House. In Washington,

museums are free, cinemas are widespread, and the school is in agreat location. My dorm-room view includes the Capitol and theLincoln Memorial.

Leaving home at fifteen was tough, but an extraordinaryexperience. I’m now looking forward to my final year. I’ve beenelected both Head Dorm Prefect and Senior Warden of the Vestrynext year, so I’ll be busy. I intend to enjoy every minute of it!

Tuesday Howe is pictured as she starts the new school yearas Head Prefect

Christopher Madden pictured with Taoiseach, Brian Cowen during the St Patricksday celebrations in Washington DC this year.

Find us on FacebookThe IEF would like to invite all of our supporters to become ‘members’ of the fund on Facebook. We are currentlyrunning live polls and discussions, engaging key supporters and politicians on the topics which matter to ourfans. Have your say on the big issues by joining up on www.facebook.com/IntegratedEducationFund. You can also sign up to receive our monthly e-zine by visiting www.ief.org.uk

Please help us to spread the word by encouraging your friends to join too! 7



MLAs Learn AboutIntegration

Colm Cavanagh (Chair of NICIE),accompanied by Noreen Campbell(CEO), and Dr Claire McGlynn(Director) attended a recentmeeting of the Northern IrelandAssembly Education Committee.NICIE representatives presentedtheir views on a range of issuesand addressed various questions,including: the willingness of allsectors to collaborate on a cross-community basis; early yearsprovision; the surveys indicatingbroad support for integratededucation; the Christian characteror ethos of integrated schools andhow the Department’s duty to‘encourage and facilitate’ bothIntegrated and Irish MediumEducation is discharged. Therewas a lively and open exchangeof views during a very usefulmeeting which lasted an hourand a half.

Representatives of theIntegrated Education Fund thenhad their chance to lay out theirhopes for the future of schoolshere. Speaking for the Fundwere Geraldine Tigchelaar(Chair) David Thompson(Trustee) and Tina Merron(Chief Executive). Thecommittee was interested tohear about two pieces ofresearch commissioned bythe Fund: one into levels ofsharing and collaborationinvolving schools acrossNorthern Ireland, andanother examining the costof duplication andsegregation in education.The politicians have askedto see the results of theresearch. The IEFrepresentatives took theopportunity to call forevidence of a politicalwill for change - foraction and not just forwords.

Today’s Youth: ‘Good To Go’? - The Education DebateIs today’s youth ‘Good to Go’ with the challenges of a changing Northern Ireland? DuringCommunity Relations Week (26th April – 2nd May), the Youth in Education Conference 2010produced a lively debate on the role and ‘shape’ of education in our society. The one-dayconference was attended by sixth form pupils from all educational sectors across Northern Ireland inThe Great Hall at Queen’s University Belfast. The experiences, views and vision of the young peoplebrought energy and relevance to the debate about the challenges and opportunities of a shared andincreasingly diverse future.

Hosted by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, students were empowered to voicetheir opinions on what has been seen as an adult concern: the education system’s preparation oftoday’s youth for tomorrow’s world. Addressing topics ranging from religion and a secular/politicalperspective to integrated education, the pupils collaborated together in the first step of paving theway to a peaceful future.

RowandaleParentsCelebratePrestigiousQueen’s Award

The Queen’s Award for VoluntaryService has been presented to theRowandale Integrated Primary School’sParents Steering Group. Thisprestigious award goes to voluntaryorganisations throughout the UK who have made outstanding contributions within local communities. TheRowandale IPS Parents’ Steering Group, who received the award from Her Majesty’s representative the LordLieutenant, was recognized for tireless campaigning to create an integrated school where children could gatherto learn and play regardless of their religious or social background.

Commenting on the Steering Group’s success, NICIE patron and former World Featherweight Boxing Champion,Barry McGuigan MBE said “This is a great honour and a fitting tribute to the painstaking work undertaken byparents and community members to develop integrated primary provision for the Moira area. It was a wonderfulprivilege for me to meet such committed people and to see the fruits of their labour when I officially openedRowandale Integrated Primary School. We need people like this to take the initiative and develop shared spaces forthe children of the future so they have opportunities to grow together.”

Pupils and staff from Ulidia IC at the Youth Conference

Rowandale IPS Steering Group with the Lord Lieutenant

NORTHERN IRELANDASSEMBLY

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Flying The Flag ForThe Environment

The European Eco-Schools schemehas recognised Mill Strand Nurserywith their highest award, theGreen Flag, for EnvironmentalAchievement.

Coleraine Mayor, CouncillorMaurice Bradley, congratulated allat Mill Strand IPS on achievingthis impressive award, saying“Mill Strand Nursery is a greatexample for all of us.” Mr. PhillipReid, Mill Strand IPS’s Principalobserved “Our children havebeen encouraged to takepositive action to improve theirschool environment, increaseenvironmental awareness, eathealthily and involve parents ingreen activities.”

Pupils in the rest of the schoolhave begun work towardsgaining a second Green Flag,by looking at environmentalissues outside the school,forming litter patrols, andtackling global issues,including fundraising toimprove the environment ofchildren living in Africa.

Future Journalists ofAmerica Interviewedat Priory ICStudents at Priory Integrated College,Holywood got the chance to quiz studentjournalists from the USA this summer when adelegation from Los Angeles visited the school.

Twenty-four postgraduates, studyingCommunication and Journalism at theUniversity of Southern California, wereaccompanied on their trip by the BBC’s JimFitzpatrick, taking in a tour of Belfast and amorning at Stormont before meeting thepupils at Priory IC and learning aboutintegrated education.

Principal, Peter McCreadie was delighted towelcome the group to the school and wasenthused by the keen interest the studentstook in integrated education: ‘We are so pleased to have the group with ustoday. The visit has allowed students fromboth sides of the Atlantic to share ideas aboutcultural difference and to celebrate theenriching diversity found in both countries.’

A group of Priory IC students held aroundtable discussion on diversity andinclusion, drawing on an Open SocietyFoundation Youth Conference they hadattended. The US visitors then facedquestions from their Priory IC hosts on theirimpressions of Northern Ireland, our mediaand our education system.

Animals, birds and the scenery of Parkanaur Forestfeature in a story which is promoting diversity andengaging primary school children around NorthernIreland. Lucky schools have received free copies of thebook, Charlie Crow Sorts It!

The author is Jean Kelly, who is a long-standingsupporter of integrated education. Jean left mainstreamteaching after fourteen years to become involved incommunity relations work. In 1991 she founded theSpeedwell Trust to bring together Catholic and Protestantchildren on environmental projects. In 2004 shereceived the inaugural Harry McKillop Irish Spirit Award,from the USA, in recognition of extraordinaryhumanitarianism.

Charlie Crow Sorts It! tells of a flying postiewho knows everything that happens in theforest where he lives, but finds a challenge intrying to reconcile the different needs andlifestyles of his animal friends who live there.The book is aimed at children in Key Stage 2and Jean has also devised a teachers’ resourcepack to go with it. Thanks to a generous giftfrom the Texas Chapter of The American IrelandFund, all integrated primary schools have beengiven 12 copies of Charlie Crow Sorts It! Moreinformation about the book is available atwww.postcrow.com

US students, Madeleine Scinto and Andrew Khouri chat withPriory IC pupils

Baroness May Blood MBE, Campaign Chair, with Jean Kelly, the author of Charlie Crow

Pupils and staff from Mill Strand IPScelebrating their Eco School Award

A Little Bird Tells Children About Diversity

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Good News For Lagan College

In spite of the gloom overeducation budgets and the limitedspend on building projects, LaganCollege is preparing the ground forits long-awaited new school.Pupils have this term returned to areorganised campus inanticipation of contractors movingonto the Castlereagh site. Theschool, which has so far only hadone third of its permanentstructure completed, hasannounced its preferred bidderfor the project – the SouthEastern Education Partnership -with final planning approvaland release of the financialsupport from the Governmentstill awaited at the time ofwriting. The school held acelebratory evening in thesummer term to display theplans and a model of theprojected building, which isbeing launched under thePrivate Finance Initiative.The scheme will run overtwenty-five years but thefirst steps seem a fittingway to mark theCollege’s thirtiethanniversary next year.

Calling All Past Pupils

We’re always keen to know whatpast pupils of integrated schoolshave been doing since they left;how did your education prepare youfor the adult world? If you’d like tomeet other former pupils from theintegrated movement, to keep intouch with what we’re doing and tocatch up with old friends, a group isgetting started and is planning asocial evening in Belfast soon....ifyou’d like to be included, or justwant to know more, please contactIEF Project Officer (and formerLagan College pupil!) Suzie Smyth:[email protected]

In June, children and staff at CranmoreIntegrated Primary School welcomed over 100overseas visitors from the worldwide IrelandFunds as part of their Annual Conference day inBelfast. The entire school was decorated withan international theme, with each classcontributing their own display.

The guests were entertained by some fantasticsinging from the pupils, before hearing apassionate speech from Helen Hamilton, thePrincipal. Many took the chance to tour the schoolto see how support from the Ireland Funds had

been put to good use. Helen Hamilton outlinedthe historical development of Cranmore and theirvision for the future as an integrated schoolserving South and West Belfast. Special mentionwas made of the Curley Family from Dallas, Texaswho helped finance the establishment of pre-school provision at Cranmore together with theinstallation of a new multisensory room, whichbenefits children with special educational needs.During the visit Loretta Brennan Glucksman,Chairman of the American Ireland Fund, presentedthe school with a cheque for £5,000 and spoke ofthe great work the school has been involved in.

School BuildingsThere was disappointment in many quarters on reading the list of schools which were grantedDepartment of Education funding for building work this summer. Catriona Ruane, Education Minister,had previously published the names of schools which met her criteria for finance, and others whichneeded more work on their bids. Of the thirty-four schools told they were “fully compliant” with thecriteria, three were integrated: Omagh Integrated Primary School, Parkhall Integrated College in Antrimand Priory Integrated College in Holywood. However none appeared on the final list of fourteen capitalbuilding projects. In fact seven of the lucky schools had been told they were only “partially compliant”with the criteria only weeks previously.

Pupils at Omagh IPS have been taught in mobile classrooms since it was founded twenty years ago. ParkhallIC Principal, George Beattie, spoke on BBC TV about his disappointment, describing the difficulty of running aschool currently spread over two campuses in ageing buildings. MLAs in the college’s catchment area secureda meeting with the Education Minister, who said,“Despite accommodation difficulties, Parkhall is athriving school providing quality education....I willcontinue to put forward a strong case for greaterinvestment in the schools’ estate to enable theschool building programme to be progressed.”

The rejection for these schools – and all the others – isespecially painful given an NI Audit Office report sayingthat, whilst more than £500m pounds are needed tomake good the schools estate, more than £350m setaside for school buildings has not been used, with theDENI “consistently underspending on its capital budget”.

Loretta Brennan Glucksman from the American Ireland Funds is presented with a gift from Helen Hamilton, Principalof Cranmore Integrated Primary School

American Ireland Funds Visit Cranmore

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European Day OfLanguages

To mark the European Day ofLanguages, Oakgrove IntegratedCollege were among many schoolsacross NI who celebrated theachievements of their languagepupils in this year’s exams.For more information visithttp://edl.ecml.at

Gold Standard ForSlemish IntegratedCollege

In July, three Slemish IntegratedCollege students travelled toLondon with two teachers, toreceive the prestigious Go4ItAward, Gold status, on the banksof the River Thames. Theyenjoyed a three course lunchwhilst listening to a live band andchatting to some of the 300 otherteachers and students whoattended. Slemish College isthe first school in NorthernIreland to be recognised byGo4It, an award through HTI(Heads, Teachers and Industry)which celebrates enterpriseand risk-taking within theschool. The pupils had tocomplete a bid describing theschool’s achievements inbusiness andentrepreneurship, and whichshowed Slemish is teachingfor life beyond exams. Theaward was presented bySimon Woodroffe, HTIpatron and entrepreneur.The students had theopportunity to explain alittle about SlemishCollege and what itmeant to be a Go4Itschool. Slemish willnow hold the status –which is a nationalquality kite mark - for three years.

Day At The Races

A Lasting Legacy

The IEF’s Race Day at Down Royal was a huge success and helped to raise over £10,000 for theFund. The 120 guests attending the event managed to combine throwing a few pounds at the‘bookies’ with supporting a good cause andhave plenty of fun in between! BaronessBlood, our Campaign Chair, would like to puton record our gratitude to artist MichaelO’Neill, Terry Cross of Delta Packaging Ltd andDavid Mackey of Fire IMC. Frances Rafferty, theRose of Belfast and a teacher at StrangfordIntegrated College, was a charming addition tothe occasion. Thanks also to Joe McStravick forhis pro bono photography, Mitzi Gillespie forthe beautiful floral centres and Ian Wilson forhis auctioneering skills. Leo Callow did usproud as MC and Hamilton and Kirk were, asusual, superb caterers.

Thank you all for a great and worthwhile day!

Drawing up a will can be one of the most important decisions we ever make, and it’s good to know thatafter we have passed on, our money can go on working for a good cause.

As a charity, the IEF has been the beneficiary of occasionallegacy donations and we are always extremely grateful. Like allour donors, the people who left us money believed passionatelyin what we do, and trusted us to process their gift with care.

If you’re considering a contribution, whether as a general gift tothe Fund or a donation to a particular programme or school, wehave been offered the support of a leading firm of lawyers whowill make the necessary arrangements in consultation with youand, if you wish, your loved ones.

It is in your family’s interests that you make a will, but in the widerinterest that you consider helping the Fund to continue teachingchildren mutual respect and understanding for generations tocome.

If you want to know more, please contact Brian Small on 028 90330031 for an informal chat.

Gerald and Maris Steinberg enjoying the day at the races

Enjoying the sunshine at Down Royal and helping to raise funds were Kevin Roland, Paul Kelly,Joe Monaghan and Jim Fitzpatrick

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INTEGRATEDEDUCATION FUND

Integrated Education Fund41-43 University Street, Belfast BT7 1FYTel: 028 9033 0031 Fax: 028 9033 0061E-mail: [email protected]: www.ief.org.uk

Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education13-19 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NATel: 028 9023 6200 Fax: 028 9023 6237E-mail: [email protected]: www.nicie.org


The latest round of the PACT Programme,PACT XI, was launched in February. Thisscheme, run by the Integrated EducationFund, supports schools of all types whichare working together and ‘Promoting aCulture of Trust’. Applicants are required towork with at least one other schoolrepresenting a different community orsector. The projects funded are designedto benefit not only students but also staff,governors, parents and the widercommunity. In June 2010, grants totalling£108,880 were awarded to 19 schools.

Previous projects have included maintainedand controlled schools coming together toexplore ‘Music from the Two Traditions’,and primary and post-primary schools of

different management types uniting in a project called ‘DiversityThrough Sport’. This year’s successful applications range overactivities such as basketball or set dancing, designing newmulticultural flags and studying the role of the two main traditionsduring the Second World War.

Many of the projects demand strong parental involvement, meaningthat the cross-community work impacts on a wider age-range, andalso brings different generations together.

Now that the muscles of our athletes have recovered from the BelfastMarathon in May, we’d like to prompt you to get those running shoeson again and start gearing up for next year’s event. The really keenrunners at the IEF office are already in training for the race, whichtakes place on 2nd May 2011. To race for integrated education, youdon’t have to commit to the whole 26.2 miles as you can enter arelay team or do the nine-mile walk or the three-mile fun run. Allmoney raised will be split between the IEF and your chosen school.

We’ll sort out official entry,branded shirts and a post-event reception – we areeven going to organisesome group trainingsessions around NorthernIreland, to keep everyonefit and offer mutualsupport. So all you have todo is get moving! For moreinformation contact SuzieSmyth at the IEF [email protected].

PACT is a winner for Glencraig IPS and St Michael’s PS pupils

Gerry Kelly, Broadcaster, chats with pupils at a recent PACT event in Stormont

Schools Make A PACT To Explore Diversity

On Your Feet For Integrated Education!


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