ALL CHANGE FOR BANGOR SCHOOLS

    0
    164

    There were smiles all round at Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, Northern Ireland’s biggest school with 1,835 pupils, as the ballot revealed 79.4% of parents backed the transformation move.

    In Bangor West, pupils and teachers held aloft their ‘yes’ building blocks as the recent vote showed 82% of parents voted in favour of the change at Rathmore Primary.

    The parental ballot is a major step in the transformational journey in the move towards full integrated status which is expected to begin in September 2025.

    During the next two years, each school will compile a development proposal which will be submitted to the Department of Education including a Transformation Action Plan. A Minister for Education, or in their absence, the Permanent Secretary will make the final decision.

    Matthew Pitts, Bangor Academy principal, said he was ‘delighted with the outcome’ and described it as a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity to lead this thriving school in the next stage of its development as an Integrated College’.

    Mr Pitts said: “To integrate or not to integrate? That was the question and our parents said ‘yes’. This is an exciting day for Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College. We are delighted that so many parents participated in the vote and for such an overwhelmingly positive result.

    “Families choose Bangor Academy for the inclusive and diverse community ethos which underpins our high quality academic, pastoral and extra curricular curriculum.

    “They are intentional about supporting our ethos and I am delighted with the outcome. I am so proud to be able to take our school through the transformation journey and excited to join the other integrated schools in Bangor so our city can now offer a full integrated educational choice for pupils from aged four through to 18.”

    Said Mr Pitts: “We are looking forward to being part of the integrated network in Northern Ireland and working with colleagues from different schools and organisations who have already shown their strength by supporting us through this process.”

    “The entire school community, teachers and Board of Governors are also look forward to working closely with The Council for Integrated Education and the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) to proceed through the process to become fully integrated.”

    Julie Hardy, principal of Rathmore Primary School, described the 82% vote to transform the school to integrated status as a ‘big yes’ from parents of their 600 pupils.

    She said: “We are delighted with the overwhelmingly positive results of the parental ballot. During Rathmore’s 50th anniversary celebration and reflections last year, we enjoyed strong engagement and support from our whole community.

    “While our Governors initiated the conversation about integrated status this positive parental vote reflects the changing needs and desire in our school community to intentionally open our doors wider to have children learning and playing side by side from nursery to primary seven.”

    The principal said the result indicated an ‘exciting future for the next 50 years and Rathmore’ and they would build upon their established ethos as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School and their motto of ‘Caring, Learning, Excelling Together’

    Said Mrs Hardy: “We look forward to working closely with the Education Authority, The Council for Integrated Education and the Integrated Education Fund to plan and become more intentional about supporting, protecting and advancing an ethos of diversity, respect and understanding in Rathmore,” she said.