Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has approved a Development Proposal to increase the admissions and enrolment numbers at Portadown Integrated Primary School (IPS).
From September 2016, the admission number at Portadown IPS will increase to 58. The school’s approved enrolment will increase on a phased basis towards a maximum of 406.
Feargal Magee, Prinicpal of Portadown IPS welcomed the Minister’s approval of the school’s application to increase its numbers to 14 classes. Mr Magee said “We are all delighted that we will now be able to accommodate more children in our school and the whole school community is looking forward to this exciting development.”
Chair of Governors Michael Hogg said “This is a great day for our school. We have been offering an integrated education option for families in Portadown since 1990, that’s 25 years and we have often had to disappoint families because we did not have space for them but now we will able to grow our school and offer more places for children.”
Lorna McAlpine, Senior Development Officer at the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education also welcomed the Minister’s decision saying “Integrated schools are often over-subscribed and this is a wonderful recognition of Portadown IPS’s contribution to integrated education in the area and will go some way to satisfying the unmet parental demand for integrated places. NICIE is delighted with this decision. NICIE staff members have worked closely with the Principal, staff and governors. We applaud the efforts of all involved in Portadown IPS who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the demand for integrated education provision was met.”
Portadown Integrated Primary School has a unique community ethos with its own personality and defining characteristics. The school has an open and proactive approach towards integration and has achieved the Rights Respecting Schools Award. The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises the achievement of Portadown IPS in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of the school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. An example of this is the learning charter in all the classrooms designed by the pupils and teachers together that is integral to the learning environment.
In March 2015 Portadown IPS was awarded the Excellence in Integrated Education Award. This award recognises Portadown IPS’s excellence in creating an educational environment that values and respects all children’s identity. They create a safe space to explore difference and develop the children’s ability to respect viewpoints different from their own. The Award also recognises the school’s excellence in demonstrating its adherence to NICIE’s Statement of Principles that are: equality; faith and values; parental involvement; and social responsibility.
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