Department of Education

Northern Irish students have a slightly shorter Christmas break than their peers before it's back to school

When schools go back after Easter, and NI's other term dates for 2025

OAKGROVE CELEBRATE 30th anniversary . . .Group pictured back in 2022 at the launch of the Oakgrove Integrated College’s 30th Anniverary Celebrations. Included from left were John Harkin, Acting Principal, Anne Murray, Chair of Board Governors, Anne Montgomery, Jimmy Laverty, Niamh Doherty, School Business Manager, and Colm Cavanagh. The founding Governors joined with students at the time to celebrate the launch of a year of activities to mark 30 years of Oakgrove Integrated College. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

74% of people in Derry & Strabane back integrated education

St. Brigid's College

Design team appointed to improve St. Brigid’s College disabled access

These state primary schools had some of lowest absence rates in Northern Ireland

The 19 top Northern Ireland primary schools for attendance rates

These secondary schools boasted some of Northern Ireland's highest attendance rates in the last school year

The 15 best secondary schools for attendance in Northern Ireland

The competition aims to fuel a passion among industry professionals

Ad Feature Department of Education and McLaren launch competition

Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana. Picture: Google Earth.

Buncrana school gets go-ahead to proceed to construction with new build

Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured with Fearghal McKinney, Head of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, and members of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Defibrillators to be provided to all schools in Northern Ireland

Workers laying the groundwork for the new St. Mary's College at the site of the former Templemore Secondary School on the Northland Road in 2008.

Cost to public purse of Derry school PPP/PFI contracts has risen to £185.2m

Eighty-one children in Derry and Strabane were being home educated in 2023/24.

81 children in Derry/Strabane being educated at home

Maths Eyes 2023 Awards: Penn Flood of St. Mura's NS, Tooban, pictured with Terry Maguire and Sheila Donegan. John Ohle Photo

Inishowen students shine at Maths Eyes final

Pupils and staff at Culmore Primary School celebrating their successful parental ballot to transform to Integrated status. Photograph by Declan Roughan,

Culmore Primary School to officially become integrated in September 2025

BillionPhotos.com - stock.adobe.

Scoil Eoghain National School in Moville to appoint contractor for extension

A Donegal TD has said he has never seen a primary school with a canteen in the county.

‘I have never come across a primary school with a canteen in County Donegal’

St. Brigid's College

Delargy calls for St. Brigid’s and Lumen Christi builds to be expedited

Toireasa and Barry McGavigan pictured with their baby girl Cobhlaith and Hero their dog. Photo: George Sweeney. DER2319GS – 38

Derry Journal Review of the Year 2023: May - Hiro as ‘midwoof’ & Seagate blow
At the start of May Aircoach confirmed over 30,000 passengers had travelled on its new service from Derry to Dublin via Belfast.
Kevin Mullan

Mark H. Durkan

Mark Durkan blasts denial of holiday hunger payments as ‘cruel’

Pupils and staff at Culmore Primary School celebrating their successful parental ballot to transform to Integrated status. Photograph by Declan Roughan,

Historic Derry primary school votes to become integrated

Derry schools are to be surveyed for the presence of RAAC.

Surveys of Derry schools to check for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete

Education Minister Martin McGuinness pictured at St. Bernadette's in Ballymurphy in 2002 with pupils, Patricia McCrory, Michaela Doole and Chantelle Wally.
PHOTO STEVE WILSON/PACEMAKER

School boycotts in protest at Martin McGuinness ‘orchestrated’

Tens of thousands of children are being taken on holiday during term time as parents look to save money

More parents opt to take children out of school for holidays

Ballougry Primary School

Closure of Ballougry postponed with school allowed to continue next year

Gregory Campbell

Gregory Campbell says parents could withdraw pupils from abortion lessons

Councillor in Derry have strongly criticised cuts to the budget for Special Educational Needs coordinators.

50% cut to special needs budget branded ‘attack on vulnerable’

School kids want more digitally-based subjects on their curriculums

Derry SDLP MLAs Sinéad McLaughlin and Mark H Durkan.

Derry MLAs express 'grave concern' over closure of School Employer Connections

Early years workers and campaigners protesting against the proposed cuts to the Pathway Fund, which has now been reversed.

Decision to cut Pathway Fund, Youth Services and Extended Schools reversed
The Department of Education has announced it is not proceeding with proposed cuts to Youth Services and a range of Early Years programmes including the Pathway Fund, Sure Start, Bright Start and Toybox. In addition the Department is not proceeding with the full scale of proposed cuts to Extended Schools.
Daire Ní Chanáin

Education Co-ordinator in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin Carol McNamara.

Over 1,600 Derry children affected by Irish language cuts

In 2022/23, the SEC engaged with 7,854 students, up from 6,516 students in the previous year.

Charity says budget cuts will disenfranchise young people, warns of redundancies

Foyle SDLP MLA Sineád McLaughlin.

Pathway Fund ‘must not be allowed to end’ warns Derry SDLP MLA

Unanimous support for local youth workers was expressed at the last full Council meeting in the Guildhall.

Unanimous support for youth workers providing support on streets and in clubs

Education Permanent Secretary, Dr Mark Browne, cutting the sod at the new £7.2million Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane along with Principal, Maire Ni Dhochartaigh and Chairperson of Governors, Colman Mac an Chrosain.

Sod turned on new £7.2million Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane

Belmont Nursery School on Racecourse Road. Photo: George Sweeney. DER2310GS – 24

Derry nursery staff forced to fundraise for replacement storage unit

The Western Trust Text-A-Nurse programme expanded to include parents, carers and school staff.

Western Trust Text-A-Nurse programme expanded

Ballougry Primary School

Clock ticking on deadline for Ballougry closure objections

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen with Board of Management, Staff and local political representatives at the official opening the new £3.3million St Mary’s Youth Club, Creggan, Derry.

£3.3 million St Mary’s Youth Club opens in Derry

Organisers of the candle-lit vigil in solidarity with the people of Ukraine with Fr Ignaacy Saniuta at Guildhall Square in March. Photo: George Sweeney. DER2209GS – 030

Over 3,700 Ukrainians now living across Donegal

Translink is advising passengers that school services will not be operating on Monday, September 19, 2022.

School bus services will not operate on Monday

Gaelscoil na Daróige in Ballymagroarty which has enjoyed significant growth over recent years.

Irish school principals welcome investments but say more is needed

Michelle McIlveen

Pupil numbers to decrease within decade according to birth forecasts

Storm Eunice follows hot on the heels of Storm Dudley, which brought strong winds on Wednesday.

Storm Eunice: Schools in Donegal to close on Friday

PSNI

Online child sexual abuse crimes increased by 80% since 2017

The move is part of One Britain One Nation Day on Friday, June 25 (Getty Images)

Government encourages children to sing this 'One Britain One Nation' song on Jun...

Schools have been advised to warn parents. (File picture; Pixabay)

Urgent warning as THC cannabis extract found ‘disguised’ in sweets : NI Dept. of...

Education Minister Peter Weir is presented with a special memento by Molly McGee and Holly Bonner during Wednesdayâ€TMs official opening of the newly refurbished Studio 2 Youth and Community Arts Centre. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Revamped Studio 2 Youth & Community Arts Centre in Derry opened by Education Min...

Ardnashee College, Derry. DER0718GS012

New Ardnashee campus moves a step closer

School

Education minister changes plans for reopening of NI schools due to increasing c...

Justin McNulty MLA said the teachers he spoke to were concerned about the spread of Covid-19.

‘Totally unacceptable’ - GCSE exams due take place on Monday but teachers claim...

Education Minister Peter Weir. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Face masks on school transport mandatory for all post-primary children

Parents and carers are being asked to be more responsible when picking up or dropping off their children at school.

This is how ALL parents leaving off and picking up children should behave at the...

First Minister, Arlene Foster, said, when introducing the 'circuit breaker' almost two weeks ago, schools would return on November 2, 2020.

Coronavirus NI - There is ‘NO R-rate target’ specific to reopening of NI schools...

Pupils who miss school because they have to self-isolate will not be recorded as absent (Photo: Shutterstock)

This is what guidance says if children have to miss school due to travel quarant...

Covid 19.

NI’s chief medic writes to parents with Covid-19 advice

A Covid-19 test-tube

Serious concerns over Covid-19 testing after ‘64 schools have reported positive ...

Schools across NI re-opened to pupils this week for first time since March.

Return to school advice ‘vague, ambiguous and contradictory’