Strabane Controlled Primary School are partnered with Sion Mills Primary School & Nursery Unit for Shared Education. Our partnership began in 2016 with teachers and pupils coming together to meet new people, develop new skills and explore our communities. Since then almost everyone, in both schools, has now had some experience of shared education. 

The overall aim of the shared education project is to scale up the level of sharing throughout schools in Northern Ireland. It hopes to improve both educational and reconciliation outcomes by schools working collaboratively.

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.

Sharing in learning for Success!

It is the vision of both schools that all pupils, from nursery to P7, will be successful in all their endeavours. The coordinators hope that by staff and pupils sharing in their educational journeys, that shared education can be a vehicle for raising standards as well as developing essential thinking skills and personal capabilities for the future. 

Pupils and staff have commented positively thus far on their experiences. Pupils have engaged in cross -curricular learning on topics including Water, Deserts, Fairytales, Churches, WWll, Toys, Irish Famine and The Vikings to name but a few. They have also participated in sporting and dramatic events and visited various places of interest both locally and further afield. Staff have come together for various training opportunities to improve teaching & learning in both schools. Shared education has also facilitated parent information evenings and the sharing of fundraising ideas through both PTA's. It is felt that both schools have developed a great working relationship sharing their respective skills, space, time and resources.

Mrs Cunningham (Sion Mills) and Miss Finlay (Strabane) are the coordinators for Shared Education. They welcome any comments, questions or suggestions.

Further information including a video on Shared education can be found on the Education Authority's (EA) website. Click on this link: https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/shared-education