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LearningCh ild ren To ge

t her

Educating

2013News from the Integrated

Education Movement inNorthern Ireland

A global spotlight shone on integratededucation during the visit of US PresidentBarack Obama to Northern Ireland in June forthe G8 summit in Fermanagh.

The President’s first stop was the WaterfrontHall in Belfast, where he addressed anaudience mainly comprising school students.He said ending segregated schooling andhousing in Northern Ireland was essential tocreate lasting peace:

“If towns remain divided — if Catholics havetheir schools and buildings, and Protestantshave theirs, if we can’t see ourselves in oneanother, if fear or resentment are allowed toharden — that too encourages division. Itdiscourages co-operation.”

President Obama then headed to EnniskillenIntegrated Primary School and spent time withdelighted pupils and teachers, accompanied by

Prime Minister David Cameron. Principal AdeleKerr said she was stunned by the visit: “Weknew something was happening but we didn’tknow what. When we heard it was Mr Obamaand Mr Cameron I just laughed, I didn’t think itcould be true.”

The leaders signed their names on a G8-themedquilt. President Obama wrote ‘Dream BigDreams’, while the Prime Minister added ‘Withthanks for all you do’, under his signature.

Marie Cowan, Chair of the IEF, was at theWaterfront Hall event and took encouragementfrom President Obama: “He has put youngpeople at the heart of his vision of a betterfuture for this society. His recognition of theundeniable benefit of educating young peopletogether is a tremendous endorsement of thehard work of so many parents, schools andcommunities that have led the way on this vitalissue.”

Issue 22 Winter

International spotlight on integrated schools

INSIDE THIS ISSUE• Tickets on sale to win

the Shawcross Mini

• IEF grants help schoolswelcome more pupils

• Economy and ecology:green schools makesavings

• Poll results challengeStormont

• Thirty year wait is overfor Lagan College

If you have any stories about sharing and

integration that you would like us to include in futurenewsletters please email

[email protected]

41-43 University StreetBelfast BT7 1FY

Northern Ireland

t: +44 (0)28 9033 0031f: +44 (0)28 9033 0061

e: [email protected]

www.ief.org.uk

www.fb.com/IntegratedEducationFund

www.twitter.com/iefni

President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron with Principal Adele Kerr and pupils at Enniskillen IPS

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2 | Learning Together Issue 22 2013

It’s a colourful worldas ICD marks day for cultureArtists and speakers from Africa,Bulgaria, China, Colombia, India,Ireland and Poland met Year 8students at Integrated CollegeDungannon in June, to mark UNWorld Day for Culture. Theoccasion brought art, music,discussion and fun to the school.The visitors, all incomers toNorthern Ireland, were workingwith the ArtsEkta cultureorganisation and theirprogramme is supported by theArts Council of Northern Irelandand Ulster Garden Villages.

The artists delivered workshops tomore than 75 studentsthroughout the day in dance,music, drumming and variousvisual arts and crafts.

Robin Regan, InternationalStudents Co-ordinator at ICD, said“The World Day for Culture is avery important day on our collegecalendar and complements ourcollege ethos of ‘LearningTogether’ and celebratingdiversity.”

Roll up for the arty carOne of Northern Ireland’s most celebrated painters has brought his personal touch to a classic miniwhich will be first prize in a competition benefitting the work of the IEF. The car was donated by theDonnelly Group and has been transformed into a work of art by Neil Shawcross. The arty mini will beat the centre of next year’s celebrations in Belfast which will mark the 50th anniversary of PaddyHopkirk’s victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Competitors have to guess thenumber of balloons fitting intothe car, verified and adjudicatedby accountant David Lyttle.Tickets are £100 and proceedsgo to benefit the IEF and Skidz, ayouth training charity. Thewinner will be announced at theanniversary dinner to be held atthe Titanic Belfast next February.

Paddy Hopkirk met pupils fromMillennium Integrated PrimarySchool who enjoyed helping toload up the mini with balloonsready for the competition.

Students model some of thetraditional costumes at ICD WorldCulture Day

Adjudicator David Lyttle, IEF Chair Marie Cowan and Paddy Hopkirkwith Millennium IPS pupils

Talented pupils from integrated schools joinedactor Adrian Dunbar, entertainer John Linehanand members of the Carson family at Belfast’sMetropolitan Arts Centre (the MAC) in June forthe Carson Awards showcase.

The Carson Awards scheme is named afterlegendary comedian, the late Frank Carson,whose family funds the awards, rewardingcreative talent in integrated schools and colleges.Entries reflect the theme “what integrationmeans to me”.

The showcase was introduced by John Linehan(aka May McFettridge) who said he washonoured to help continue the scheme his friendFrank had established.

The audience enjoyedprizewinners’ workincluding painting, collageand short films from sevenintegrated schools, as wellas an extract of the playThe Great Human BirdCompetition, from NittyGritty Theatre Company.Nitty Gritty, which issupported by a CarsonBursary, involves studentsfrom integrated collegespresenting new drama.

Tony Carson said “Dadalways loved seeing theemerging talent and flair inthe integrated schools andthe family is very proud tobe behind this initiative. It’sgreat to see the studentsuse the Carson Awards

scheme to celebrate unity and diversity.”

Guest speaker Adrian Dunbar commented “Thearts have always been an equal interface so tosee these young people getting involved inthe arts is a thrill for me. This event isinspiring - I find the whole process ofintegrated education inspirational.”

The next round of Carson Awards is now openfor entries, with the closing date for bursaryapplications on Friday 29 November and forcompleted projects in all categories on 02 May2014.

For more details on the Carson Awards pleasevisit www.ief.org.uk/carsonawards

Tony and Majella Carson with proud pupils from Corran IPS at the CarsonAwards Showcase

Carson Awards celebrate creative youth


Spires IPS pupils are on the ballThe keen rugby players of Spires Integrated PrimarySchool, Magherafelt will treasure the memory of a tripto Ravenhill in Belfast in May. The 11 young playersparticipated in the Domino’s Pizza Primary Schools’Mini Rugby Festival, when 96 children from acrossNorthern Ireland ran out at the home of their Ulsterheroes. The Spires IPS pupils, pictured here with Ulsterstalwart Nigel Brady, received the Best Skills Award.

Learning Together Issue 22 2013 | 3

Lagan shows off its grand designPupils returning to Lagan Collegethis term were delighted to seetheir new building furnished andready for action. Thirty-two yearsafter it was opened, the firstplanned integrated school inNorthern Ireland moved intopurpose-built, state of the artfacilities on its site in theCastlereagh Hills.

Lagan College’s existing buildings were refurbished and integrated with the new project, but pupilsand staff were happy to say goodbye to the many mobile classrooms which had been used for years.The new facilities include a media suite, sixth form area, a choice of catering areas, sports hall, fitnesssuite, music suite, dance/drama studio and sports pitches. There are also new classrooms, allICT–equipped, and a new Chaplaincy.

Past pupils were invited to tour the new school on a Saturday morning in September when a hockeymatch was staged between current and former pupils on the all-weather pitch – resulting in a victoryfor the Lagan College past pupils.

The victorious Spires IPS team

Past and present: the hockey teams ready to enjoy the new pitch at Lagan College

Designs on fitness and fun...Children at Kircubbin Integrated PrimarySchool are enjoying the latest designs inplay apparatus after the school’s outdoordevelopment project was completed. A BigLottery grant helped the school installfitness and fun equipment including aclimbing wall, bikes and tricycles. An eco-garden was opened in September as thefinal stage in the three year project.

Diana Award for inspirational Emma-RoseEmma-Rose Collins, a Year 11pupil at Hazelwood IntegratedCollege, has earned a DianaAward. The award scheme wasfounded to commemorate Diana,Princess of Wales and recognisesyoung people who have made apositive difference to theircommunity.

Emma-Rose has Marfan’s Syndrome(a condition affecting the eyes,skeleton and blood vessels amongother tissues), a visual impairmentand cardiac problems. Despitehaving to attend hospitalappointments and experiencingjoint pain and headaches Emma-Rose is a fun-loving, caring pupilwho participates fully in school andis particularly keen on PE, HE,Drama and Music. She is also avery active fundraiser and a mentorto other pupils.

Besides this very active school life,Emma-Rose helps care for herwidowed mother Jacqui, who isalso registered disabled and is awheelchair user.

Emma-Rose’s enthusiasm andkindness inspire staff and pupilsalike.

Nominations for this year’s awardsclose on November 15 and can besubmitted through www.diana-award.org.uk

Emma-Louise Collins



Integrated schools around NorthernIreland are this term welcoming morenew pupils than ever before, thanks tothe support of the IEF’s philanthropicdonors. Grants from the Fund totallingaround half a million pounds havehelped integrated schools respond toparental demand with extraaccommodation. The IEF is solely

dependent on fundraising to do this andall the grants awarded will mean 200additional pupils will have enteredintegrated schools this autumn. Thesepupils represent all stages of school life,from pre-school to sixth form.Unfortunately the IEF could not helpevery project seeking support due to thelimit on the funds available.

Marie Cowan, Chair of the IEF, says “We areproud to be able to help provide moreplaces in integrated schools to meet thegrowing demand from families who believechildren of all backgrounds should learn,play and grow together in an environmentof respect and understanding. Huge thanksgo to our generous donors who enable us tohelp schools offer an integrated educationexperience to more families.”

Projects supported by the IEF include anincreased intake at Enniskillen and atPortadown Integrated Primary Schools; bothschools have permission from theDepartment of Education to temporarilyincrease enrolment, allowing them each tohave a second P1 class. However, there wasno accommodation for the additional pupilsand their new teachers until the IEF steppedin to fund mobile classrooms.

Portadown IPS Principal Feargal Magee says“There is an evident desire for integratededucation in this area. The Department hassupplied an additional teacher for atemporary increase in places and we cannow provide the necessary space. Ourschool is thriving and it’s great to see all thenew pupils settling in and enjoying thefacilities.”

Inside the new classroom at Portadown IPS

IEF supporters help expand i

More space at Enniskillen IPS


Students and staff at Hazelwood Integrated College were delighted to beable to finally access their new 6th form accommodation in late Octoberafter a dispute over the lease to the land meant classrooms were out ofbounds when term began. The IEF and the Belfast Trust for IntegratedEducation (BELTIE) helped the school to buy, install and equip 14 mobileclassrooms, to enable specialist teaching in STEM subjects – Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The college is now able toaccommodate a growing number of post-GCSE students and has enhancedprovision for supporting pupils with special educational needs.

Delays over finalising the lease led to the Belfast Education and LibraryBoard locking the gates to the new site, but after negotiations betweenthe Board, the school, and the Department of Education it was agreed thatfinal preparation of the buildings could go ahead.


Principal Kevin Lambe (r) watches as Sinead Murrayand John O’Dowd cut the cake Sinead baked tocelebrate the opening of the new HE facility atShimna IC

Making the most of the new classroom at New-Bridge IC

d integrated schools

More choice for more pupilsthanks to IEF grantsThe IEF has helped Shimna Integrated College develop its site toaccommodate an increased 6th form and offer a wider range of courses.The Department of Education provided a new block for Home Economicsand the IEF supported an extension which will allow the school to offervocational and academic qualifications to more young people in the area.The facility was officially opened by Education Minister John O’Dowd inOctober. Shimna IC has been over-subscribed for several years and hasnow been given the go-ahead from the Department of Education to takein additional pupils both at Year 8 and post-GCSE.

Hazelwood IC delighted withnew facility for 6th form

Students at New-Bridge Integrated College areenjoying new, state of the art facilities for mediastudies in IEF funded mobile classrooms. Somecourses are shared with pupils from otherschools in the Banbridge area under theEntitlement Framework, which helps schools towork together to offer a wider choice ofsubjects. New-Bridge IC’s development proposalwas accepted by the Department of Educationand the school admitted 20 additional pupils inYear 8 in September.

Stephen Mackessy, Tina Merron,IEF Chief Executive, Hazelwood ICPrincipal Kathleen Gormley, Martin Stroud of BELTIE and Courtney Laight



High-tech OakwoodIPS makes its markChildren at Oakwood IntegratedPrimary School in Derriaghy are atthe forefront of using informationand communications technology(ICT) to enhance their work, andthat’s official!

Following an extensive externalassessment Oakwood IPS hasbeen awarded the prestigious ICTMark, which recognises theschool’s success in developing thestrategic use of ICT in bothadministration and across thecurriculum.

Richard Mulcahy, the Oakwood IPSICT co-ordinator, commented “Allthe pupils and staff deserve creditfor this achievement. The childrenhave enjoyed getting to grips withcomputer programming usingScratch, publishing online andmaking incredible movies andanimations. ICT is a fantasticcreative tool that can be used inall areas of the curriculum.”

Oakwood IPS pupils celebrate theirnew ICT Mark

How do youmake peacepermanent? By Craig Weir, Head Boy,Strangford IC

Northern Ireland has been bitterly divided byreligious affirmation for more than 30 longyears. But now, as we approach the end of avery tense year, we must look to the future. Ihad the privilege to attend the recent speech byPresident Obama in which he said to the youngpeople in the audience “Ultimately, if you wantyour communities to deal with the past and facethe future united, together, it isn’t somethingyou have to wait for somebody else to do –that’s a choice you have to make right now.”

Effective peace-building demands that anabsence of dialogue be replaced with openchannels of communication and honest discourseon all the issues at the heart of the conflict. Oneway must be the establishment of moreintegrated schools. I know from experience thatsharing the best days of your life with peoplefrom all religious beliefs is exceptional.

It is amazing to think that we have a power-sharing, devolved government today. Howevermore must be done by this government toensure Northern Ireland is not seen as a place ofconflict and division but as a blueprint for peaceand success. The young people of this country,like me, want their families to grow up in a safeenvironment. Support for the PSNI, who havefaced the unrest which we have seen this year,must be increased. The problems of asegregated education system need to beaddressed and we, the future leaders of thiscountry, need to make a stand and no longerallow the traits of the past to influence ourfuture, our country, our lives.

This is a hard task: the history of this countrymakes division part of our DNA. But if we worktogether, along with our politicians, thenNorthern Ireland can be that successful, vibrantcountry that we strive for.

PersonallySpeaking:

Pupils’ voices heard at Cliftonville IPSCliftonville Integrated Primary School recently took part in a Participation Support Programme (PSP)delivered by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) NI.

Research evidence has indicated that schools which take participation seriously tend to have fewerexclusions and better attendance, and at Cliftonville IPS even the youngest child was involved.

An assembly was held on ‘pupil voice’, and 104 pupils filled in a questionnaire for an auditcommenting on key aspects of the school day. Finally, 15 pupils from classes P3-P7 took part in aparticipation workshop.

Overall it was revealed that most of the children felt their opinions were heard and taken seriously atschool. Plans to make participation even easier in the future include an ideas box so that children cancomment anonymously, and the agenda for school council meetings will be published.

Gill Hassard, Senior Participation Officer, NCB with Cliftonville IPS pupils



Belfast parents support increase in integrated educationNICIE has also commissioned an opinion poll, in this case specifically amongst parents in the Belfast area. Polling company MillwardBrown carried out a telephone survey of a sample of 400 parents of children aged under 12, to test response to the proposal that athird of all places in the BELB catchment area should be integrated. Key findings include:

66% of parents support increasing the number of integrated places in Belfast from 4% to 33%

72% believe that funding for integrated education shouldbe prioritised, with enough places available for those whowish to send their children to an integrated school

60% of parents would prefer that new schools resultingfrom consolidation of smaller schools be integrated

95% of those who expressed an opinion would keep theirchildren at their current school if it were transformed to anintegrated school.

Noreen Campbell, Chief Executive of NICIE, said “This surveyshows overwhelming support for NICIE’s proposals toincrease the volume of integrated primary school places inthe BELB area from 4% to 33% even though this will meanan offset reduction in local places in the controlled andmaintained sectors.”

Further details of the poll, which was carried out in June,can be found on www.NICIE.org

Opinion Poll Results Stagnation is damaging our children’s educationThe segregation in our education system must be addressed, evenif it means bringing in an independent body to plan the wayahead, according to the results of recent opinion polls.

The Fund has commissioned independent research company LucidTalkto test public views on education issues.

More than 1,200 people from 22 postcode areas in Northern Irelandwere questioned in May this year. The results confirm and underlinewhat so many previous polls have shown – the politicians at Stormontare out of step with the attitudes of the public. The survey showsmore than two-thirds of people believe Northern Ireland’s politiciansmust urgently tackle our divided education system.

Only 7% of children attend integrated schools in Northern Ireland, withothers attending schools with an enrolment overwhelmingly eitherProtestant or Catholic. But the majority of people responding to theLucidTalk survey agree that a segregated education model perpetuatesdivision in society, and more than two thirds (70%) of peopleexpressing an opinion want to see the Executive set a target date fordesegregating our education system.

In another survey, carried out in late summer, nearly 86% of peopleexpressing an opinion agreed that our local politicians’ failure to reachagreement on education policy was harming our children’s education.

The same poll found that more than 65% of those who expressed anopinion in the poll said they would support an independentcommission being established to examine the NI education system.

To find out more, see www.ief.org.uk/index.php/resources/research

Our local politicians have beenunable to reach agreement on anumber of important issues, e.g.education. Do you think this isharming our children’seducation?


Integrated schools have been taking extracare of the environment with individual‘green’ energy initiatives, which are alsosaving them money!

All Children’s Integrated Primary School isharnessing energy from the Shimna River toprovide electricity. There will be enoughsurplus produced to power ten primaryschools, so All Children’s IPS can sell this backto the grid. In May the Finance Minister atthe time, Sammy Wilson, officially switchedon the machinery and said “Considering thevalue of the electricity it will produce, thesaving on fuel costs and the revenue it cangenerate, it should be a real asset to theschool. Importantly the system can also beused to educate young people about energy,so the next generation will appreciate thediversity of ways in which power isgenerated.”

Meanwhile, Integrated College Dungannonhas linked with nearby manufacturer GreinerPackaging in its own green power project.Waste water from the school is pumped to

the Greiner factory to cool materials duringthe production process. This produces hotwater which is returned to the school toprovide free heating. The project wasofficially launched by Education Minister JohnO’Dowd who praised the economic andenvironmental benefits of the scheme.

Lough View Integrated Primary School hasalso recently launched two projects whichhighlight the school’s commitment to agreener world. In partnership with ActionRenewables, the school has installed a 20kilowatt solar panels system which willsignificantly reduce the school’s carbonfootprint and electricity bills. Beyond this itwill generate income by supplying surpluspower to sell back to the grid. In a separateproject, the school secured Big Lotteryfunding to build 20 family allotments on theschool site providing families with awonderful opportunity to enjoy the schoolgrounds and learn about gardening.


Ministers John O’Dowd and Arlene Foster visitthe green initiative at Greiner Packaging withGreiner staff and ICD students, along with ICDPrincipal Andrew Sleeth (l)

We’ve got thepower!

Enjoying the environment at Lough View IPS

Sammy Wilson MP switches on the power at All Children’s IPS



Donaghadee Male Voice Choir captivates the audience at Stormont

Classroomdrama withGeraldine atMalone IC!Geraldine Hughes, Hollywood andBroadway actress and a greatsupporter of the IEF, has been sharingher skills at a workshop with GCSEdrama students at Malone IntegratedCollege. Pupils in year 11 enjoyed aseries of exercises and then made themost of a question and answersession where they grilled Geraldineon everything from how she first got started in acting to what she wore on the red carpet!

Belfast-born Geraldine, known for her roles in films such as Rocky Balboa and Gran Torino, is nowbased in the USA where she has recently been seen on screen as Abraham Lincoln’s wife Mary. Thestar was able to acknowledge the inspiration given by a member of Malone IC drama staff – MrsCostello – who taught Geraldine when she was a pupil at St Louise’s Comprehensive in Belfast.

Maire Thompson, Principal of Malone IC, said “We are all thrilled to welcome Geraldine Hughes to ourdrama class and to show her our flourishing school. Her perspective on the acting profession is reallyhelpful and her support of integrated education is invaluable. I know the students have ended theirclasses today with a new sense of purpose and enthusiasm.”

Geraldine Hughes said “As a strong believer in integrated education I love to see what the integratedschools are up to and get involved when I can. I always take inspiration from the attitudes of the youngpeople I meet and enjoy seeing how integration works in practice. From what I’ve seen this afternoon,Malone Integrated College will go from strength to strength.”

Schools’ scarecrows a splash of colour Children at integrated primary schools helped tobrighten a grey weekend at the 2013 Airtricity GardenFestival at Hillsborough Castle as a colourful crowd ofscarecrows took their places in Scarecrow Square.

The handmade figures were the entries for this year’sAllianz Scarecrow competition, and schools wereinvited to enter up to six scarecrows on the theme ofstorytellers or musicians, or simply to make atraditional figure.

The overall winner was ‘Bookworm’, from DrumlinsIntegrated Primary School. Many thanks to sponsorsAllianz, and to all the children who took part.

Perfect harmony at Stormont as choirs support integrated educationThe vocalists of the Donaghadee Male Voice Choir were joined by the PhoenixChoir from Glasgow at the end of September for an autumn festival of song inaid of the Integrated Education Fund. The fabulous singers staged twoconcerts, one in the beautiful Strean Presbyterian Church in Newtownards,and one in the august surroundings of the Great Hall in Parliament Buildings,Stormont. First Minister Peter Robinson kindly sponsored the Stormont event.

Baroness May Blood, IEF Campaign Chair, was among almost 400 people who, overthe two nights, turned out to enjoy uplifting and entertaining music. Programmehighlights included the lusty audience participation in ‘Chariots Comin ’ by theDonaghadee Male Voice Choir at Stormont and Glasgow Phoenix’s spellbindingarrangement of ‘Seal Lullaby’.

We are very grateful to all who took part; thanks go to the Chairman of DonaghadeeMVC Jim Hamilton and their Musical Director Robert Wilson, and to the Phoenix Choir,which was led by President Jan Bonomy and Musical Director Marilyn Smith.

Children at Cranmore IntegratedPrimary School bade farewell to theirfounding Principal, Helen Hamilton, atthe end of last term. Helen showedher utter commitment to integratededucation in 1993 when she gave upa permanent post to become the firstprincipal of a school whose buildingdid not exist, which had no pupilsenrolled, had neither staff norfinances and which did not gainDepartment of Education approvaluntil the very end of that summer.With the similar determination andshared vision of eight parents, theschool became a reality and noweducates more than 200 pupils.

Actress Geraldine Hughes at Malone IC

Thank you, Helen Hamilton

Helen Hamilton in her Principal’s roleat Cranmore IPS

‘Bookworm’ from Drumlins IPS



Celebrate the ‘Best ofNorthern Ireland’ in LondonThe recently-founded London Past Pupils Group, whichcomprises London-based people who hail from integratedschools, would like to invite guests to its first fundraisingevent in support of the IEF. ‘Celebrating the Best ofNorthern Ireland’ will showcase a wide range of home-grown talent at the Meantime Old Brewery in Greenwichon Wednesday 27 November.

Group convenor Chris Madden says “The London Past PupilsGroup is now well established and working hard. Althoughonly set up a few months ago, we have already helped host areception for potential donors and sent a delegation to theBritish-Irish Association Conference. We’re developing excitingplans for an evening which will both shine a light on all that isgood about Northern Ireland and raise vital funds for the IEF.‘Celebrating the Best of Northern Ireland’ will showcase music,comedy and much more from home. At just £20 each, ticketsare expected to sell very quickly, so I would encourageeveryone to buy theirs as soon as possible.”

To find out more about this event visitwww.ief.org.uk/meantime or contact IEF Campaign FundraiserRonan McCay on 028 9033 0031.

Teeing off in Texas Brian Small, the IEF fundraisingmanager, headed across the Atlantic inOctober to attend Kevin Curley’sShamrock Shootout in Dallas, Texas.This was the 20th anniversary of thecharity golf event and the tournamentagain benefited the IEF. Kevin has beena stalwart champion of integration sincemeeting the IEF way back in 2002 atTerry Cross’ chateau in Bordeaux. Kevinvisited Northern Ireland during thesummer and it was wonderful to beable to show him the great work that hehas sponsored, notably at CranmoreIntegrated Primary School. Brian Smallmade the most of his time in Texas,taking the opportunity to update theIEF’s many faithful supporters there onthe Fund’s progress and challenges.Their help over the years is very muchappreciated.

Charity registration to begin soonAll integrated schools which are, orwould like to be considered as charitiesare reminded that they need to registerwith the new Charity Commission forNorthern Ireland.

The Charity Commission, the independentregulator of charities in Northern Ireland, is setto begin compulsory registration later this year.It is estimated that there are as many as12,000 charities currently operating inNorthern Ireland so registration will bemanaged over a number of years, with theCommission calling organisations forward intranches.

To prepare for registration, the Commission isurging all charitable organisations in NorthernIreland to check if they appear on the list onthe website www.charitycommissionni.org.uk.

If you are on the list and the details arecorrect - you don’t need to take any action at

this stage. The Commission will be in touchwith you regarding registration in due course.

If you are on the list but the details areincorrect – please update the CharityCommission by [email protected] with thecorrect details.

If you are not on the list but you think youheld charitable tax status granted by HMRCbefore 19 August 2013 – please [email protected] with yourcharity name, contact name, telephonenumber, postal address, email address, HMRCreference number and the approximate dateon which charitable tax status was granted.

Once registration opens, any schools wishingto obtain charitable tax status will have toapply first to the Commission to obtain acharity registration number before applying toHMRC.

The first integrated pupils!

Baroness May Blood, IEF Campaign Chair, with the Macedonian visitors

Macedonian visitors learn about

integrated schoolsIntegrated education in Northern Ireland has been presented as anexample of peace-building to visitors from Macedonia. Adelegation consisting of members of the Macedonian Governmentincluding Tahir Hani, Minister of Local Self-Government, metmembers of the IEF and the Northern Ireland Council for IntegratedEducation (NICIE) during their trip to Belfast in August.

The group was welcomed by IEF Campaign Chair, Baroness May Bloodand then heard a brief background and history of integrated educationin Northern Ireland from IEF Communications Director, Sam Fitzsimmons.NICIE Development Officer Paula McIlwaine updated the delegation onNICIE’s work and partnerships with Macedonian schools.

Speaking during the visit Mr Hani said “I am pleased to be here inNorthern Ireland and we wish to continue to build relationshipsbetween the people of Macedonia and Northern Ireland. We hope tolearn from Northern Ireland, not only from how your children are taughttogether in integrated schools, but how two communities can live andwork together in peace.”


‘We need a clear path to abetter structure’From Baroness May Blood, Campaign Chair IEF

The United Nations recently cited segregated education as acontinuing, major problem for Northern Ireland; alongside suchstatements, news images of riots and protests are doingnothing for our international reputation. Against thisbackground, visits to integrated schools last term by PresidentObama, Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy PrimeMinister Nick Clegg set integrated education before theinternational community as an example of the way forward.

It seems that nearly all parties and stakeholders agree that the currentmodel of delivery is not one we would have designed if starting from

scratch. However, we need something beyond this; we need a clear vision for the future. The currentpolicies, proposals and pledges coming from Stormont add up to merely tinkering at the edges of theeducation system, of cautious moves, albeit steps in the right direction. We need to plan a clear path to abetter structure which accommodates difference, celebrates diversity and promotes unity.

Barack Obama was conscious of the need to look forward when he addressed an audience of mainlyyoung people in Belfast in June. These young people were born into emerging peace, and many of themwill be voting for the first time at the next election. It was made clear at the Waterfront Hall that thecoming generation do not want our past to be their future; with a series of elections coming up in thenext three years (European, Westminster, Northern Ireland Assembly and local councils) politicians mustnow listen to the electorate.


Becky Ford of North Coast ICBaroness May Blood

EnterprisingBecky is CanadaboundNorth Coast Integrated Collegehas produced an ‘entrepreneur ofthe year’ in the shape of Year 11student Becky Ford, one of theparticipants in the KeyProgramme.

The programme is run by YoungEnterprise Northern Ireland inpartnership with JuniorAchievement Ireland and supportedby The International Fund forIreland. Students are taken out oftheir own environment to faceoutdoor challenges as well asenterprise training and personaldevelopment activities.

This year, 12 pupils from NorthCoast IC successfully completed thescheme, each gaining a GCSE inCitizenship in the process.

Becky’s commitment to the projectand her positive attitude stood out,making her one of only 12 winnersout of 900 participants in this year’sKey Programme – and winning her atrip to Canada!

Fund staff take to the roadAfter a summer break, IEF staff Brian Small and Jonathon Fulton are continuing to take the ‘Help Us,Help You’ programme to the staff and governors of integrated schools. The programme aims toexplain how our charity works and how our schools can help us. ‘HUHY’, as it’s affectionately known,has been very well received and already we have been kindly given some donations and promises ofhelp. This term the duo will again be on tour far and wide and are available for bookings!

Shop online and help the fundChristmas shoppinggives you a greatopportunity to help theIEF and it doesn’t meanyou spend a penny morethan you want to. WithGive as you Live it’s thebusinesses you buy fromwho give us the money.Thousands of topretailers have signed upto donate a percentageto us every time youshop online throughGive as you Live, so ifyou haven’t already,please visitwww.giveasyoulive.comand sign up before youget started on yourChristmas shopping.

Shopping online through Give as you Live is no different from shopping online normally; it’s just assecure. And it can help grow integrated education.

Join us online for daily discussions, polls and debates on the latest education topics that matter to you. Have your say on the bigissues by joining up on www.facebook.com/IntegratedEducationFund or by following us at www.twitter.com/iefniPlease help us to spread the word by encouraging your friends to join too!


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