Shared campuses planned
agendaNi previews the first three new projects under the Shared Educational Campus Programme.
The concept of a shared campus was formally launched in Omagh five years ago and will now be rolled out in three other locations across Northern Ireland. Construction on the Lisanelly Barracks site (pictured above) is due to start by the end of the year. The site will comprise Arvalee School and Resource Centre, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy, Omagh High School, and Sacred Heart College.
A subsequent programme of campuses was proposed in the community relations strategy (Together: Building a United Community) drawn up by DUP and Sinn Féin ministers in May 2013. The programme was formally launched in January with a deadline of 31 March.
The strategy envisages that work on 10 new campuses will start within the next five years. This can involve newly built shared facilities, the enhancement of existing facilities, or full campuses where schools are co-located and share infrastructure.
Sixteen applications were received and the first three successful projects were announced by Education Minister John O’Dowd on 1 July:
• St Mary’s High School and Limavady High School (shared STEM and sixth form facilities);
• Moy Regional Primary School and
St John’s Primary School; and
• Ballycastle High School and Cross and Passion College.
The schools involved have well-established connections and a business case will now be drawn up for each scheme. O’Dowd acknowledged that, due to the short time period, other schools were not able to prepare projects on time. A second call for projects therefore opened in September.
In Limavady, the sixth form centre will be based on the St Mary’s school site with the STEM centre located at Limavady High School. The Moy project will involve building a single 12-class school building on a new site to accommodate both schools. A multi-purpose hall, play areas, library and ancillary accommodation will be shared. The Ballycastle proposal would be based on two new core schools and two shared centres, one for STEM and one for performance and creative arts at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.
Shared education is based on the concept of schools retaining their own ethos and identities. Pupils from different backgrounds should spend more time learning and playing together but would also spend a substantial amount of time among pupils from their own community. Integrated education involves the intentional establishment of a school – either a new build or by transfer from another sector – which has a single mixed community.
Together: Building a United Community does not mention integrated education. The Alliance Party’s alternative strategy, For Everyone, states that all future new build schools should be integrated unless an exceptional case for single identity provision can be made.
