The Story of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland

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The Story of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland Cecil Linehan and Anne Odling-Smee Founding parents of Lagan College Where it all began..... 1972 In the beginning…… Founding Members of All Children Together (ACT) Cecil Linehan Bettie Benton Tony Spencer Anne Odling-Smee Bill Brown Margaret Kennedy Kathleen Lindsay Roy Houston Brian Mulholland Thelma Sheil ACT continued to grow...Sister Anna and Gareth Ross… Sister Anna with Mother Teresa Extract from Letter by Mrs Elizabeth Benton in May 1974 “I don’t think we can talk about peace and reconciliation without talking about children – our children. They are our hope for the future - our citizens of tomorrow. But how can we become one community, one people when our children continue to grow up separately as well as being educated separately? We believe, that the children should mix together when the parents desire it and where better than in schools?” Cecil Linehan and Tony Spencer in 1975 ACT on “Open Door” TV programme in1975 Conor O’Clery’s article in the Irish Press in 1977 Bettie Benton and Cecil Linehan pictured outside the High Court in Dublin in 1981 Lagan College staff and pupils in September 1981 Dr Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland meets Anne Odling- Smee, Tina Merron CEO of the IEF and Michael Wardlow, CEO of NICIE on a visit to Oakwood Integrated Primary School in Derriaghy. Cecil Linehan pictured with her grand-daughter Niamh. Niamh is also a pupil at an integrated school. Anne Odling-Smee, one of the founders of Lagan College and Integrated Education in Northern Ireland, pictured with her son Hugh. Hugh was one of the first pupils at Lagan College. Hugh and Anne Odling-Smee with friends and family Anne Odling-Smee with her son Hugh grand-daughter Martha. Hugh was one of the first pupils in Lagan College in 1981 and Martha is now a pupil at an integrated school too. The momentum continued to grow….. 65 integrated schools in 2016 and the story continues … JFK… the best way to invent the future is to create it..

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Dear Minister, I Write on Behalf of the Board of Governors of Blackwater
Dear Minister, I write on behalf of the Board of Governors of Blackwater Integrated College. We note that the Education Bill to establish ESA is at present in committee stage in the Assembly. We wish to bring to your attention the following grave concerns we have with this Bill in its present form. Both the Education Reform Order (1989) and the Belfast Agreement (1998) place an obligation on the Department of Education to “encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education that is the education together of Catholic and Protestant children” Under clause 2(5) of the Education Bill, there is a duty on ESA to encourage and facilitate the development of education in an Irish speaking school but no corresponding duty on ESA regarding integrated education. The governors of Blackwater Integrated College argue that the Education Bill must be amended to enshrine this statutory obligation to encourage and facilitate integrated education in the bill. There is no representation for integrated education on the board, as constituted at the moment; the board reflects the segregated nature of our educational system and divided society. In order to meet the statutory obligation referred to above it is essential that there must be representation from the integrated movement on the board. Blackwater Integrated College has a pupil enrolment of 277 children; we serve over 70 families. Since our foundation in September 2008 we have educated over 600 young people. In addition, we have a teaching staff of 25 teachers, 29 Teaching Assistants and 8 ancillary and administrative staff. Where is the representation on ESA for the staff, children and families who are part of an integrated school and the much greater number of the wider public who support this type of education? It is inequitable and unjust that those choosing Integrated Education should be denied representation on the Board of ESA.
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