St Patrick’s Academy and the Royal School Dungannon launched their Sharing Education Programme (SEP) on Thursday 10th March. The two Principals, Mr Fintan Donnelly and Dr David Burnett, were joined by their respective Chairmen of Governors, Mr Kevin Teague and Mrs Ethne Harkness, and by staff and pupils from the two schools at the launch event in RSD. The SEP is a cross community initiative administered by Queen’s University School of Education and funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the International Fund for Ireland. The aim of the project is to support collaboration between schools where the pupils are from different backgrounds so as to foster “sustainable, high quality engagement by young people from different cultural traditions and backgrounds”.
Speaking about the SEP, Mr Donnelly and Dr Burnett emphasised the long term commitment of both schools to working in partnership. “The two schools were already working together successfully in areas of the Sixth Form curriculum, with pupils from each school studying in the other school, and it was a natural next step to broaden that connection and to create opportunities for pupils to be involved in enrichment activities together”, commented Mr Donnelly. “The emphasis now is on developing those links further so that the understanding and friendships which are built up by the pupils involved can be long lasting and make a real impact on their lives”, added Dr Burnett.
The work of the schools has been focused initially on two areas, in a History enrichment programme and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and there are plans to extend the project into areas such as languages, music, art and geography in the next two years. There will also be opportunities for Cookstown High School and St Patrick’s College to become involved in the project in the future.
The History programme has been developed by the Heads of History in each school, Mr Patrick McCormick and Mr Paul Kerr, and has allowed A Level pupils to study together and to visit historical sites in Dublin with the ultimate aim of showcasing their knowledge by presenting a series of History lectures alongside visiting academics at RSD on 29 March. As part of their preparations the pupils have been aided by a visit from Dr Margaret O’Callaghan and Professor Brian Walker from Queen’s and the group will be visiting the university to complete their research in the next few days.
Younger pupils in Year 11 have been preparing for a different kind of challenge in the shape of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award where teamwork and hill-walking and camping skills are the order of the day. Around 16 Year 11 pupils from each school, led by staff from both schools, will head into the Mournes on several expeditions between April and June. It involves much more than simply pulling on a pair of hiking boots and the pupils have been working together for many weeks in after school sessions at each school and building up their understanding of what the Award involves and how they can conquer the challenge before them. Team leaders Mr Stephen Boyle, Mrs Robyn Hampton and Miss Debbie McCombe have been working together for several months to plan and deliver the programme and a team of six teachers drawn from both schools will lead and supervise the expeditions over the coming months.
The two principals concluded that, “the SEP brings pupils together in the pursuit of common goals but it also requires staff to work together and by sharing best practice across two schools with long traditions of excellence in academic and extra-curricular pursuits the educational experience is enhanced for everyone”.
