Here in St. Teresa's Primary School we are committed to building positive relationships with our partner school Portadown Integrated Primary School (PIPS).
Through Shared Education we offer our children opportunities to celebrate our similarities and differences and to interact with other pupils from a variety of backgrounds.
What is Shared Education?
The purpose of shared education is to -
(a) deliver educational benefits to children and young persons;
(b) promote the efficient and effective use of resources;
(c) promote equality of opportunity;
(d) promote good relations; and
(e) promote respect for identity, diversity and community cohesion.
Shared Education means the education together of -
(a) those of different religious belief, including reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children or young persons; and
(b) those who are experiencing socio-economic deprivation and those who are not, which is secured by the working together and co-operation of two or more relevant providers.
What do we do?
All children in Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to engage in Shared Education during their school career. In St. Teresa's PS and PIPS our focus for 2022/23 is to reestablish our connection. We have reintroduced Shared Education to our Primary 1, 2 and 3 classes during this academic year with the hope of establishing friendships that can be developed and sustained throughout their primary school years.
Rights Respecting Schools
We, in St. Teresa's Primary School work to instill the values and principles of UNICEF's Rights Respecting Schools Programme. As a Rights Respecting School, PIPS school staff share their expertise and guidance in developing knowledge and understanding to support our pupils.
You can learn more about Rights Respecting Schools here The Rights Respecting Schools Award | UNICEF UK
Shared Education Policy
Shared Education Policy is being supported and developed by the Department of Education with a view to building stronger communities for our young people to grow up in and thrive.
You can read the policy here Sharing Works - A policy for shared education (education-ni.gov.uk)
Through Shared Education we hope that our children will be supported to grow as young people who can integrate into society and engage in opportunities where they can appreciate others and their values and beliefs.
