First Catholic school to formally change to integrated status opens its doors

By Q Radio news

The first Catholic school in Northern Ireland to formally change its status to integrated opens its doors today.

Seaview Primary in Glenarm in county Antrim has been congratulated on the move by the film star Liam Neeson.

The percentage of Catholics and Protestants attending the school is already put at roughly 40 per cent each.

Earlier this year Ballymena born Hollywood actor Liam Neeson sent a special video message to the parents, staff and governors of schools around Northern Ireland who want to transform to integrated status.

The first Catholic school in Northern Ireland to formally change its status to integrated opens its doors today.https://t.co/ty5h36p2BS

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 1, 2021

Mr Neeson spoke as Seaview Primary School in Glenarm became the first Catholic school here to have been approved for integrated status (12 March 21).

The actor has been an advocate of integrated education in Northern Ireland for many years and has worked with the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) as an ambassador to champion the process of conversion.

More recently he fronted the charity’s ‘Integrate My School’ campaign which was launched four years ago in a bid to make Northern Ireland’s education environment a more inclusive one. 

Addressing the parents and schools across Northern Ireland, Mr Neeson said:

“I am delighted that so many parents across Northern Ireland are choosing an integrated future for their children. The recent news that Seaview Primary School in Glenarm is set to become the first Catholic school to become integrated is a positive step forward on the journey to an inclusive society.

I’m delighted to say that Seaview is just one of a number of schools that has conducted a democratic ballot of its parents since the ‘Integrate My School Campaign’ was launched just a few years ago.

“I want to congratulate all of the parents, staff and governors in schools right across Northern Ireland, who are taking courageous steps to ensure children from different traditions, will get to learn and play together, every day, in the same school.

You are actively helping to build inclusive communities.  Well done. I am so proud of you all.”

(John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group (North America) and supporter of integrated education; Baroness May Blood, Campaign Chair of the Integrated Education Fund; and Liam Neeson)

The IEF’s Integrate My School Campaign has contributed to a surge in interest in integrated schooling in Northern Ireland and has attracted the support of thousands of parents with Seaview Primary being just one of eight schools here where parental ballots have been held in support of the formal integration move.

The Integrate My School Campaign has been supported by Belfast-based charity, the Integrated Education Fund, and is backed by a number of its donors.

The Campaign raises awareness about how parents can support positive change at their child’s school whilst also supporting schools wishing to explore the benefits of formal transformation to integration status. 

Whilst eight schools proceeded to submitting Development Proposals, many more schools are engaging with both the IEF and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education in considering a similar move.

However, the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic has meant some of these schools have had to give immediate priority to supporting pupil’s home learning and plans for pupil’s safe return to school.

Baroness May Blood, Campaign Chair, of the Integrated Education Fund, said:

“It is so encouraging to see that the Integrate My School Campaign has had such a tangible impact in terms of parents and schools supporting integrated education. I hope it will turn their aspiration into reality.

Liam has played a crucial role in raising awareness of the Campaign. It is so important that parents, schools and indeed the wider community not only have information on how they can access an integrated education but be supported in their exploration.

“Unfortunately, despite decades of legal and political obligations to ‘encourage and facilitate integrated education’, the growth of integrated schools remains in the hands of parents and schools alone. It is still not planned for by the government. That has to change.”

(John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group (North America) and supporter of integrated education; Ciaran Hinds, Geraldine Hughes, Liam Neeson, and Baroness May Blood, Campaign Chair of the Integrated Education Fund)