Staff and pupils at Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh will be hosting an Open Day at the school on Saturday, January 11, for prospective pupils and their parents. Speaking ahead of the event, a spokesperson for the school said: “Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh echoes the words of Nelson Mandela, who once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ In an often divided society that is struggling toward peace, integrated schools offer a strong, clear route to a better Northern Ireland. It’s strange to think that before 1995, there was no integrated post-primary school in the Omagh area and parent power made the difference. So today we have Drumragh Integrated College.
“Drumragh Integrated College is an integrated, nonselective post-primary school catering for pupils aged 11 to 19 years. It has established itself academically with impressive exam results, and has a strong reputation for quality pastoral care, including anti-bullying. The result is that especially over recent years, the college has become the school of choice for an increasing number of parents and children from a wide catchment area. It opened in 1995 and was based in the Victorian Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital building until 2009, when it moved into its present, much appreciated new accommodation on the Crevenagh Road, Omagh.
“The college’s ethos is genuinely integrated, as evidenced for example by its effective, clear-sighted approaches to Ash Wednesday, Remembrance and responding to conflict. Its mission statement is ‘Excellence for Everyone’. The college strives to offer a shining example of integration in practice and to provide a quality of education that is second to none. Drumragh was one of the first schools in Northern Ireland to achieve the Excellence in Integrated Education Award in 2010.
“The college welcomes, supports and nurtures pupils of all abilities, valuing those who are academic and, equally, those whose greatest talents are more practical, sporting or creative. The Gifted and Talented Programme challenges those with particular strengths to excel. Yet those with learning difficulties are valued equally and are supported in ways that suit them best. All of this is underpinned by quality staff pupil relationships that in many ways represent the heart of the college.
“The college website is www.drumraghcollege.co.uk. If anyone would like to visit the college to see it for themselves and is unable to go along to the Open Day on Saturday, January 11, then they are welcome to contact the principal.
“Drumragh Integrated College aims to provide excellent education for all, supporting the fulfilment by every student of his or her academic, personal, spiritual and social potential. Staff encourage each student to treat others with tolerance, understanding and respect.
“The college provides a safe, positive learning environment where pupils enjoy learning and staff enjoy teaching. Achievement and effort are recognised and celebrated, especially where they represent a pupil’s personal best. The college welcomes an active and supportive partnership with parents. It embraces those of diverse religious beliefs and none, whilst building on a Christian ethos. All pupils are encouraged to live and work, both in the present and the future, as constructive members of their local and wider communities. The college aims to prepare pupils well for the fast changing world of the 21st century.”
