Developing Integrated Post-Primary Provision in the Mid-Down Area
A Public Meeting co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) took place at Cedar Integrated Primary School, Crossgar on Thursday 29th November 2018. This meeting was held in response to increased parental demand for integrated post-primary provision in the area.
A parent group was formed, with NICIE support, with the aim of opening an 11-18 Integrated post-primary school in the Crossgar/Saintfield area. The group worked to raise awareness of the project at events in the area, collecting Expression of Interest forms to assess demand for post-primary Integrated provision.
All involved were delighted when, on 19th October 2023, the Development Proposal to establish Mid Down Integrated College was approved by the Department of Education.
You can connect with the Mid Down Integrated College Steering Group via social media:
Developing Integrated Post-Primary Provision in the Causeway Area
NICIE partook in lengthy discussions with the Boards of Governors of Coleraine College, Dunluce School and North Coast Integrated College, the Education Authority (EA), the Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC), and Ulster University (UU), the goal of which was to provide more sustainable post-primary provision within the Causeway area.
This school would “allow scope for increased parental preference, community integration in providing for a reasonable balance of pupils from Catholic and Protestant faiths, children from other faiths, cultures and communities, with a broader curriculum offer and a unique partnership with Ulster University”.
A Development Proposal to establish a “establish a new co-educational, 11-18, non-selective controlled integrated post-primary school” was submitted, and this was approved on 18th September 2023.
Developing Integrated Irish-Medium Provision in East Belfast
NICIE is currently working alongside Scoil na Seolta in East Belfast, with the purpose of offering Integration provision to local Primary and Pre-school aged children through the medium of Irish. This includes work with dedicated stakeholders and parents, including Altram and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.
The educational benefits of both Integrated and Irish-medium education are numerous, and this project has the potential to deliver a setting unique in its provision of an education blending the benefits of both.
You can find out more information by accessing the Scoil na Seolta webpage.