Ballyhackett Primary School, Castlerock, which celebrates 150 years of educating children this year, is hoping to transform soon to Controlled Integrated Status. The Board of Governors, staff and parents have already demonstrated commitment to integration and the transformation process through a ballot and the school has lodged an official development proposal with the Education Authority.
The proposal states that the school will “transform to Controlled Integrated Status, with effect from 1 September 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter”.
SDLP Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor, Helena Dallat O’Driscoll, has declared her support for the transformation. The councillor for Bann DEA said:
“I fully back Ballyhackett Primary School’s request to transform to Controlled Integrated Status. There is great appetite amongst parents, pupils and the wider Castlerock community for this transformation and the school already has a long traditional of welcoming children of different faiths.
She continued:
“Ballyhackett has a long-standing, successful shared education programme and has proven that it is an inclusive and welcoming school.
“The school plays an important role at the heart of the Castlerock community and is used by the community in the evenings. I hope that the school is successful in its bid to transform and is able to continue to play a vital role in Castlerock for many years to come.
She concluded:
The existing ethos at Ballyhackett Primary School would enable a smooth transition to integrated status. I am fully supportive of their request and I would urge the many others in the area who are also enthusiastic about the proposal to lodge their support by writing to the Area Planning Policy Team, Department of Education, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co. Down BT19 7PR or by emailing [email protected] as soon as possible.
