School embarks on road to integrated education

ONE school for all… a new journey begins at Tircur!!!

After 50 years of educating children in the idyllic rural setting of St Eugene’s Primary School, the Tircur community is excited to be embarking on a new journey into integrated education.

Following a recent survey conducting by the school, 97 per-cent of parents voted in favour of the change, highlighting a near-unanimous shift in the community towards inclusive education.

A Rural Integrated Action Group has been created which, according to them, aims to establish a school capable of becoming the number one choice for all children in the Gortin Glens area, regardless of faith or religious belief.

St Eugene’s Primary School was earmarked for closure in June 2023, but this has been shelved due to the application for integrated status.

A spokesperson for the school told the UH of the community’s plans to keep the school alive.

“While St Eugene’s as we know it may not be around for much longer, a new school which caters for the needs of all children, as well as becoming a hub for the wider community, will be created on the existing site.

“ Many parents are aware of the benefits of a rural education and there is massive support for true integration in our schools, and the school principal, Margaret Donaghy, is looking forward to combining these two appealing attributes, providing one school for all.”

The school say they expect to open with integrated status in September 2023.

“In the interim there is lots of work to be done,” they said, “and the action group plan to engage with the local community so that they can design a curriculum and school setting that meets the ever-changing needs of the world around us.

The Rural Integrated Action Group are now asking parents in the community who would like their children benefit from this new school to contact them on 02882648407, or, indeed, for people interested in joining the development group to get in touch with the Parents’ Association at steugenespta@hotmail.com