SHARING EDUCATION PROGRAMME – CELEBRATION EVENT
Tuesday 7th June was an exciting and important day for three local schools, as they came together to celebrate their Sharing Education Programme with Year 8 pupils.
In 2010 Belfast High School, Hazelwood Integrated College and Dominican College, Fortwilliam, secured financial support from the Atlantic Philanthropies and the International Fund for Ireland for an ambitious and exciting three-year reconciliation programme which is focussed on the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the three schools. This initiative forms part of the Sharing Education Programme managed by the Queen’s University of Belfast.
This initiative is breaking new ground in STEM education in Northern Ireland, including:
- 450 Year 8 pupils achieving the CREST British Science Bronze Award;
- the development of a collaborative STEM Blog and Virtual Learning Environment between the three schools;
- shared classes in GCSE Electronics at Key Stage 4;
- the development of new and flexible approaches to STEM collaboration at the ages 11-14;
- unique collaboration with key stakeholders in Science education in Northern Ireland, including W5, Sentinus and professional associates who were all in attendance on 7th June.
James Maxwell, Assistant Principal at Belfast High School and the SEP Project Manager, commented: “The fact that we have been successful in securing funding to develop STEM within three local schools is a deserved result of our clear vision for the development of Science, Maths, Technology and Engineering. The funding has put the schools involved at the forefront of regional initiatives and will offer pupils the chance to gain experiences, competencies and accreditation over and above normal curricular provision through effective and meaningful collaboration.”
