Shared Education promotes integrated/inclusive ethos in schools

The Principals, Staff and Governors of Tor Bank Special School and Millennium Integrated Primary School hosted an event at Tor Bank School at 10am on Tuesday 7th June that celebrated the success of the positive partnership programme designed to deepen the integrated, inclusive ethos of both schools.

This learning partnership, supported by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the  Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Republic Of Ireland) was conceived two years ago with the aims of establishing a non-judgemental, positive capacity building relationship between both schools while creating an environment where deep levels of sharing and learning could take place.

Both Principals believe that the collaboration strand to this project is particularly appropriate as both schools wish to acknowledge and highlight their commitment to diversity as fully as possible, in order to maximise the practice of inclusion, participation and achievement for all their learners.

They stressed that the core of this unique learning partnership focuses upon how the ethos of inclusion deepens understanding and as a result produces positive outcomes for learning and learners.  They outlined the areas of exploration in the collaboration.  These are creating appropriate assessment tools for every learner to measure progress in both the “soft” and traditional skills

• creating and participating in drama to explore culture and raise self esteem
• sharing both school’s experience of the Rights Respecting School and Excellence in Integration awards
• providing a platform for pupils attending both schools to showcase their skills to the wider community

Colm Davis, Principal Tor Bank Special School commented

“We are delighted our children are involved in a ‘land mark’ opportunity that focuses on sharing and inclusion while raising self-confidence and self-esteem through positive relationship building activities. The in-depth insight into how an integrated school culture has developed in different school contexts has also been invaluable for staff and governors alike. We are excited that the positive link with Millennium Integrated School will continue to develop, grow and prosper.”

Mary Roulston, Principal Millennium Integrated Primary School commented

“We are delighted that the children from both schools are enjoying a variety of cultural, learning experiences together.  Working together as we have, has deepened the long standing relationship between the two schools and we hope to continue to learn from each other in the future – staff, children and parents.”

ENDS