Good Relations Week 2025

Strule Shared Education Campus  

Shared Education LEGO Event

Session 1: Face-to-face 3 hours - Get to you know each other / ice breakers / create project teams of 5/6 (equal numbers from each setting, small groups of 5/6 max). Each group responsible for creating a component part - retail, residential, places of worship, Hospitality, Medical, Leisure, etc.

Session 2: Face-to-face 3 hours - Look at town planning  / sustainable buildings / project aims and objectives / Learning to use of AI / Learning to use Adobe

Session 3: Online 1 hour - Use of Adobe and Other platforms. Upload plans, pupils can interact online. Project teams

Session 4: Face-to-face 3 hours - Planning for Construction

Session 5: Online 1 hour - Pupils can interact online, provide feedback to each other

Session 6: Face-to-face 4 hours - Final LEGO Construction onto plans and Presentation

A joint town walk would also benefit pupils as they explore geography and town planning!

LEGO can be used in any challenge, providing everyone is contributing to the component parts to create an overall programme - i.e. building a new school (each sub-team does a faculty  / department)

Beverley McCormick in Ulster University has researched the role of LEGO in Shared Education / peace-building. You can contact Beverley at b.mccormick@ulster.ac.uk if you have any questions.

Hart Memorial PS and Presentation PS

Shared Education in Clogher Valley

CommUNITY

Read the BBC article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgrx9qg7vxo

Watch Kieran Tourish present this as a news report from 5mins 48 onwards. It is a brilliant watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002c8tv/bbc-newsline-lunchtime-news-15052025 

You can also read more on Fountain PS website, by clicking on the picture above.

Knockahollet PS and St. Anne's PS Together in Sport

Moving Forward Together (MFT) Mega Wellbeing Event

The Mayor from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council visited Parkhall PS, where the pupils from Parkhall PS were joined by pupils from Riverside Special school. Click on the album to see some photographs of the day.

Mainstreaming Shared Education 

Evaluation 2024/25 and Action Plan 2025/26

As we move into Term 3, we have issued the evaluation documents and the action plan for the next academic year. Coordinators should complete the evaluation tasks for 2024/25, and then submit the action plan for 2025/26. 

Note: the return of the Partnership Evaluation and Annual Partnership Data 2024/25 are mandatory for partnerships in receipt of financial resource in 2024/25.

1. Evaluation of Mainstreamed Shared Education 2024/25

Partnerships, who have accessed Mainstreamed Shared Education Resourcing for 2024/25, are asked to complete a partnership evaluation.  The partnership evaluation is crucial in demonstrating the impact of Shared Education during this academic year. This data set helps to shape future developments and can be used to support requests for additional resourcing. Each partnership is asked to submit only one return.  

MSE Partnership Evaluation Form 2024/25 

(Click this link to complete). 

Partnership evaluations should be submitted by Monday 30th June, 2025. 

Note - This is an MS Form so the responses are automatic.

Once complete, all MSE Annual Partnership Data should be submitted to the Shared Education Mailbox - SharedEducation@eani.org.uk by Monday 30th June, 2025.

3. Action Plans 2025/26

The link below provides a step-by-step guide on how to complete and submit the required documentation. We have carefully considered feedback from partnerships and developed a process which we trust you will find less bureaucratic and easier to navigate. Please take time to review these prior to beginning the application process.

MSE Application Process 2025/26 

(Click this link, download a copy, complete and email sharededucation@eani.org.uk)

To support the action planning process the Education Authority will hold two online workshops that will provide detail on how to complete the required action plan and the support available to partnerships. 

Workshop 1 – Tuesday 13th May (3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.)

Workshop 2 – Tuesday 20th May (3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.)

If you wish to attend any of these workshops, please register via the link below:

MSE APPLICATION WORKSHOP REGISTRATION LINK

Applications for Mainstreamed Shared Education 2025/26 should be submitted to the Shared Education Mailbox - SharedEducation@eani.org.uk by Monday 30th June, 2025. (Applications received beyond this point will not be considered for financial resourcing in 2025/26)

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate in connecting with your designated Shared Education Officer:

Locality North – Eilish Gormley eilish.gormley@eani.org.uk

Locality South West – Paul McIver Paul.McIver@eani.org.uk

Locality East –Jason Arbuckle Jason.arbuckle@eani.org.uk

Strule Shared Education Campus

The Strule Shared Education Campus, Omagh is a pioneering approach to delivering education, bringing together into one Shared Education Campus, over 4000 post-primary pupils from local schools - Arvalee School & Resource Centre, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy Grammar School, Omagh High School and Sacred Heart College. Alongside the six schools buildings, there will also be three shared buildings, namely the Shared Education Hub, the Shared Sports Centre and the Shared Sports Pavillion.

Schools will be able to deliver a 21st century curriculum in progressive, modern and flexible facilities, aspects of which will be enhanced significantly through sharing resources. The campus approach will also facilitate better connectivity between mainstream and special needs schools. An exciting time for Education in the Omagh area!

Take 5 - Carhill IPS and Culcrow PS

Portglenone Art Exhibition

Portglenone PS and St. Mary's PS have been creating paintings and pictures of their local area as part of their Shared Education work. Each class had a different area of focus. The finished pieces were put on Public Display in Portglenone Community Hub for the wider community to come and see. 

P1 - Bluebells P2 - Forest P3 - Herons P4 - Sunflower Fields

P5 - Buidlings P6 - Doorways P7 - Bridge

Leading a Highly Effective Shared Education Partnership

• Provide leaders with a strategic overview of Shared Education,

• Outline the requirements of leaders in advancing high-quality partnership working,

• Align Shared Education partnership working to the new ETI Framework for Inspection; and

• Consider the vision for your organisation and partnership to support School Improvement

Mrs Lornette McAlister, principal of Poyntzpass PS, also shared her experiences of leading (with her colleague) Shared Education in her partnership.

Ballycastle Shared Education Campus

This innovative construction project will also benefit the community with investment in additional community facilities by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council.

Recently, both Principals Mr Ian Williams (BHS) and Mrs Geraldine Duffy (C&P) hosted Dr Darla Deardorff on a visit to explore the Shared Campus model. Dr Deardorff was accompanied by Professor Joanne Hughes, Director of the Centre for Shared Education at Queen’s. 

Celebrating St. Patrick in Shared Education

Harpurs Hill PS and St. Malachy's PS

Causeway Coast & Glens Pupil Voice Event

The Pupil Voice event at Ulster University, Coleraine on 27th February 2025 was delivered in collaboration with Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Ulster University and the Education Authority.

This event allows pupils from the post-primary schools in the borough the opportunity to engage with elected representatives from all parties, to hear their opinions and debate matters of civic importance. 

Pupils were able to engage directly with the members, and also participated in a panel discussion. Live interactive polling also illustrated changing opinions as the day progressed.  The event was superbly well hosted by Mark Carruthers and Peter Osbourne.

Huge thanks to Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council for facilitating this innovative event. 

Connecting Minds - Ballymoney Post-primary Partnership

Creative Connections

The DENI and DEI are pleased to invite Primary, Post Primary and Special Schools to participate in a new pilot creative partnership programme for children and young people, teachers, creative practitioners and school communities.

Creative Connections will run in two phases; 

Phase 1 runs from February to June 2025 and begins with professional learning events for teachers and creative practitioners which are followed by funded in-school residencies where children and young people, teachers and creative practitioners work in creative partnership. Phase 2 commences in September 2025 and runs to June 2026. 

During Phase 2, schools form clusters of schools north and south to create cross border creative learning communities. 

The Department of Education in Northern Ireland would particularly encourage expressions of interest from schools supporting pupils living in RAISE localities and will endeavour to ensure representation in the programme from all such localities. 

The Department of Education in Ireland welcomes expressions of interest from all schools in counties Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Cavan, and Louth, especially DEIS primary, post-primary and special education schools. 

Community Connections in Kilrea

Intergenerational Collaboration in Coleraine

Developing Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities in Foyle

Exploring Identity in Coleraine

The P6 pupils of Killowen PS and St. John’s PS had a wonderful Shared Education experience on 6th December 2024 starting off in Killowen PS, discussing symbols, icons and similarities and differences. After initial preparatory work, the pupils visited St. John’s Church and Killowen Church of Ireland in Coleraine to expand their knowledge.

Meanwhile, the P7 pupils met in St. John's PS to work on preparing for their joint Christmas Carol singing. The group also looked at emblems and symbols associated with their communities, and worked on designing a Christmas jumper!

The Coordinators and staff of both schools innovate to ensure that all pupils are engaged in quality shared education experiences throughout the year. 

'Together at Christmas' in Omagh

Christmas Carol Service in Limavady

On 5th December 2024, the Shared Chamber Choir and Musicians from Limavady High School and St. Mary's High School came together for their annual Christmas Carol Service. This years service was held in Drumachose Presbyterian Church.

Each year, the Shared Education in Roe Valley (SERV) Partnership host this fabulous festive event, rotating the venue around the Churches, and engaging the wider community.

Huge congratulations to the pupils and staff in both schools for producing a wonderful event.

Sharing Works Magazine 2024

Click here to catch up on what's been happening in Shared Education in this latest edition of the Sharing Works Magazine for 2024

Shared Education Mainstreaming Funding 2024/25

GOOD NEWS! We are delighted to start issuing Letters of Offer for 2024/25 Mainstreamed SE funding.

Shirley Stewart is issuing Letters of Offer on Tues 1st October and Wed 2nd October. 

Please keep an eye for this dropping!

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE WORKSHOPS

A series of upcoming workshops for PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Shared Education funding are coming up. SE Mainstreaming partnerships are NOT eligible to attend.

This funding is for those schools currently not in receipt of any SE funding.

Good Relations Week 2024

The Strule campus is a pioneering project that will provide a state-of-the-art shared centre of learning. It will bring together six schools from across the community and incorporate grammar, secondary and special school provision. Over 4,000 children and young people from all backgrounds, will come together on a vibrant and dynamic campus. The schools will work together to provide a shared curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

The Minister continued: “I am delighted we have reached this key milestone in the delivery of this iconic and unique shared education campus. The Strule project will be an education campus of world and international renown and a flagship for the shared society we are aiming to develop.”

A cross border consortium led by the Education Authority has been awarded €34.5m (£29m) of PEACEPLUS funding to support shared learning in formal education settings across Northern Ireland and the border counties. 

The Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education (ASPIRE) project will bring students from different cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds together to learn, while also providing joint training schemes to upskill educators to better equip them to facilitate shared learning.

The project aims to engage 111,000 pupils and 1,761 educators over the next four and a half years. The programmes will be delivered at every level including pre-school, primary and post primary schools, primarily targeted at those with no or limited prior engagement in shared education.

The ASPIRE project is led by the Education Authority, working alongside partners Léargas, Early Years, National Childhood Network and the Fermanagh Trust. The project will engage with key stakeholders from across the education sector including parents and communities.

The Special EU Programmes Body announced the award, which follows awards made  earlier this year of €13.3m for a North South schools civic exchange programme and non-formal shared learning projects.

Read more by clicking this link: Further Investment for Shared Learning | SEUPB 

Good Relations Week 2024, from 16th to 22nd September, embraces ‘OpportUNITY’ – a call to action to create a brighter, inclusive future for all.

‘OpportUNITY’ is a collective moment for us all to UNITE and be architects of change in helping build a region where every voice matters.

By showcasing the dynamism, creativity and dedication of local groups, organisations and individuals we can spotlight the transformative power of working together to address challenges such as sectarianism, racism, inequality, health and well-being, poverty and education.

Get involved in Good Relations Week 2024 and help create a future where inclusivity and diversity are not just celebrated but lived.

Click the link below to find out more about events happening during Good Relations Week in September

Good Relations Week Link

The Education Authority in collaboration with BBC Northern Ireland welcomed 180 pupils to Queen's Film Theatre Belfast on Tuesday 16th April for a special screening of the multi-award-winning documentary 'Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland'. The screening of episode two from the series was part of a new education pilot aimed at supporting students as they seek to understand the legacy of the troubles. Following the screening one of the creators of the BBC drama Blue Lights, Declan Lawn, hosted a Q&A discussion panel with award-winning director James Bluemel and cast members answering pupil questions. 

Please see link below to information on this year’s event series highlighting the legacy of Frederick Douglass. Events are happening in Belfast, with additional events in Cork, Rochester, NY, USA and online around the globe. Throughout the week, events will explore the work of Frederick Douglass, the Douglass family and other changemakers, and also to discuss the many contemporary, related topics that relate to Frederick Douglass and the impact of his life and work on issues such as identity, race and equal rights. As always, the themes of connectivity, co-creation and collaboration remain central to the programming and activities. 

Events 2024 — #DouglassWeek 

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council hosted a Pupil Voice Event at Ulster University Coleraine on Tuesday 5th March with many of the local Shared Education Post-Primary Partnership Schools in attendance. The event offered the opportunity for students to ask hard-hitting questions to their locally elected council representatives about issues that are important to them. Mark Carruthers and Peter Osborne facilitated the question and answer panel along with interactive polling throughout the session. Students also engaged in a 'Councillor Speed-dating' session enabling them to have time to speak to each of the representatives of the political parties present.

The Education Authority (EA) in partnership with Belfast City Council and Stena Line have hosted a Shared Education celebration event at W5, Belfast. 

Through the Stena Line Shared Education Project eight schools from South and West Belfast have been participating in a four-year shared education programme that has supported the development of four new shared education partnerships.

St. Peter’s PS & Malvern PS, St. John the Baptist PS & Finaghy PS, St. Bride’s PS & Donegal Road PS and Springhill PS & St. Clare’s PS have taken part in this fantastic programme which has cemented relationships between the pupils, staff and the wider community.

The programme targeted Key Stage 2 pupils and in the last four years pupil participation has increased with over 600 pupils, in 2023/24, engaging in shared education activity as part of the project.

Paul Close, EA Head of Shared Education and Sectoral Support said: “The EA has worked in collaboration with the Belfast City Council to plan, deliver and evaluate the Shared Education Projects. To date there has been an investment of £120,000, by Stena Line & Belfast City Council over 4 academic years, which has provided pupils with the opportunity to engage in shared learning experiences which help build relationships, explore similarities and difference and respect for others.

“This innovative project demonstrates how the public and private sector can work collaboratively to improve learning experiences for children and young people. The project enabled schools to form new partnerships which has helped build positive relationships and improve educational outcomes. We hope that this project will be a catalyst for future collaborations with the private sector.” 

Dan Sten Olsson, Chairman, Stena Line said: “I would like to applaud our friends in Belfast City Council and the Education Authority (EA) for their support and drive on the Stena Line Shared Education Schools Programme over the last four years. 

“I am convinced that we all can meet and learn from each other through collaboration, dialogue, and art. Given the number of global challenges around the world at the moment, the Non-Violence Project continues to have an important place in our communities, and I’m delighted to see the positive impact it has created for the young people of Belfast.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “We’re delighted to have supported the Shared Education programme over the past four years through our Good Relations Action Plan, funded by The Executive Office. 

“Through the Belfast Agenda, we’re working with our community planning partners to ensure our city is a place where everyone feels welcomed, safe and is equipped to be the best at what they want to be.  Programmes such as this ensure that our young people can continue the great work that is already in place to make Belfast a city for all.

“Today’s event is a great opportunity to congratulate all of the participants who have committed their time to the programme. I hope they’ll continue to develop the relationships they’ve formed and use the experiences they’ve gathered as they move forward through life.”

The 4 shared education partnerships have been supported by a range of external partners, with experience in Community Relations, to facilitate pupil engagement such as Peace Players and Community Relations in Schools (CRIS). These organisations have helped contribute to attitudinal changes in children and young people, improved outcomes for pupils and stronger connections across communities.

STEM with Wings

Picture a satellite the size of a basketball or a plane fueled by hydrogen. Each term, primary and secondary schools are invited to learn about a new theme from an expert in their field. Workshop will involve engaging activities, opportunities for Q&As and inspiring insights into STEM innovation. 

Join schools across the country for STEM with Wings, a series of digital events bringing STEM into your classroom. Each term two schools will win a follow on workshop with RAF Youth STEM to embed learning. 

Following on from a special screening of the ‘Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland’ episode in BBC Blackstaff Studios back in October 2023, a group of ten teachers who attended the event agreed to be part of an exciting opportunity to co-design a bespoke Teacher Professional Learning Module around teaching Controversial and Sensitive Issues in the modern classroom.

The intention of the module is to support schools who are new to shared education and in particular beginning teachers who have a very different experience of living in Northern Ireland post conflict and post Good Friday Agreement. Within the module development there will be scope to continue to work with the BBC to share the learning from the series and to encourage and support schools to use the resource in a variety of subjects and in a shared education experience. 

The ten teachers enjoyed an interactive 2-day module planning course at Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast on 1st and 2nd February 2024. Some of the speakers over the 2 days included Prof. Tony Gallagher, Prof. Duncan Morrow (UU), Lisa Dietrich (CRIS) and Mary McKeagney (BBC). 

There are further plans for a follow-up workshop in the third term to finalise the content of the new TPL module in order to make this available to all teachers in the near future.

Please watch the video below for a flavour of what they got up to.

A delegation of Korean Educators had the opportunity to visit Northern Ireland to learn more about the education system and the peace building work that has been ongoing through Shared Education. The group had the opportunity to listen to speakers from the Education Authority, Stranmillis University and Community Relations in Schools (CRIS). 

The challenges that are currently ongoing in the Korean Peninsula are significantly different to those that we currently face in Northern Ireland. However, there have been many lessons learned and examples of highly effective practice which the delegation were keen to discuss and consider for future developments in their own region. 

*** Deadline extension to Friday 27th October ***

Ulster University is committed to engaging school pupils across Northern Ireland, in high quality educational outreach resources, specifically designed to motivate and inspire the next generation.

www.ulster.ac.uk/schoolsacademy

Ulster University Discovery Academy is our online version of outreach, it's open to all young people, school pupils Year 8-14/college students etc, its free, self-paced and we currently have 75+ courses on offer.

Each course is aligned with curriculum, personal development or showcases pathways into university disciplines, co-designed by Ulster University academics.  The Discovery Academy enables young people across NI to have unlimited access to university outreach, removing barriers and creating pathways to HE. 

To find out how your school could can get involved, please contact by email schools@ulster.ac.uk or access our online learning platform at www.ulster.ac.uk/schoolsacademy

INTO Film would like to share the exciting news that our new video games hub, www.intofilm.org/games, with various resources, including Story Builder: Games, game reviews, teaching materials, and teacher training opportunities, is now live and completely free to every school.

The INTO Film Team have developed a new suite of resources that harness the potential of games in classrooms. Through collaboration with BAFTA and other game industry organisations, we can now make these resources, workshops, and teacher training available to all schools across NI. More details and all of the materials can be found here. https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/national-video-games-day-2023 

The Good Relations Week 2023 Event Listing is now live at https://goodrelationsweek.com/events/ with a packed programme of face-to-face event, virtual events, and digital content from a diverse range of groups and organisations across the region.

‘Building a Future in Shared Education’ 

On Friday 9th June, Ulster University, Coleraine welcomed 50 pupils from the local Millburn PS and St. Malachy’s PS Shared Education partnership to engage in an interactive workshop using Lego as the medium to create a ‘shared town’. 

The Primary 7 pupils worked in seven different groups focusing on the following themes; Education, Worship, Leisure, Retail, Transport, Healthcare and Housing. The event was the culmination of a series of shared lessons using a ‘Blended Approach’ both in school and on MS Teams where they had previously planned and designed their ideas on paper and with the support of the school and university staff brought these to life in Lego form. 

The children engaged in healthy dialogue and debate about where best the various elements should be situated in order to realise their shared vision of an inclusive, sustainable and environmentally friendly town. The pupils should be proud of the end product but importantly they had the opportunity to build their friendships and create special memories together. 

Good Relations Week 2023 to embrace Togetherness for meaningful change

Local groups, schools and businesses are urged to participate in the annual Community Relations Council event taking place this September

Good Relations Week 2023 is in preparation mode with a mission to embody the spirit of togetherness as it celebrates peace-building and cultural diversity in its annual contribution  to eradicating sectarianism, racism, and inequality across the region.

Good Relations Week 2023, coordinated by the Community Relations Council, is scheduled to run from Monday 18th September to Sunday 24th September 2023.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Together’ which will be showcased through a week-long programme of events focused on cooperation, inclusivity, and progress.

The programme of events will include workshops, lectures, panel discussions, talks, podcasts, film screenings, music and dance performances, storytelling, and exhibitions from a diverse range of organisations across the region.

Local community groups, voluntary organisations, schools, representative groups, statutory bodies, businesses, and local councils are encouraged to participate and register their events before the deadline of Friday 1st September 2023.

Strule Shared Education Campus