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NICIE welcomes integrated status for Parkhall College18/05/2009
NICIE has warmly greeted Education Minister Caitríona Ruane’s decision to approve the transformation to integrated status of Parkhall College in Antrim.
Transformation allows existing schools to officially become integrated by making relevant changes to achieve a religious balance and meet the needs of the whole school community.
The process is initiated after a positive parental ballot and Parkhall voted during 2008 in favour of beginning the transformation journey.
The process is initiated after a positive parental ballot and Parkhall voted during 2008 in favour of beginning the transformation journey.
Demand for an integrated college in the wider Antrim area had already been highlighted in previous years by the Sixmile parent group who raised awareness about the lack of any such provision for young people emerging from the three local integrated primary schools.
Since the successful ballot, Parkhall College has been working closely with NICIE to develop and implement a comprehensive transformation action plan and will continue to do so now approval has been given.
Commenting on the decision, Michael Wardlow, Chief Executive of NICIE stated: “This Ministerial approval to transform to integrated status formally recognises the hard work that the school has undertaken and is an important step in providing age 3-18 integrated provision for the Antrim area.
“This is a successful outcome to a long process driven by parents seeking a shared education for their children. I would take this opportunity to thank all the parents involved in the Sixmile College project for their dedication and hope that they see in this transformation, the opportunity they had hoped for, so that children in Antrim can be educated together, rather than apart.”
