Information sessions on

In partnership with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, the Rural Centre for Shared Education which has developed and managed Shared Education Programmes in schools since 2009, will be hosting two information sessions on Jointly Managed Schools – a new model agreed upon by the main Churches and the Department of Education as a means of creating strong sustainable schools and having a positive impact on the educational landscape.

With the growth of a variety of shared education initiatives, some controlled and maintained schools have expressed an interest in establishing a ‘jointly managed church school’, where both the representatives of the Transferor Churches and the Catholic Church working together have a joint role in the management of the school.

In response the Department of Education, having worked closely with the Transferor Representatives’ Council which represents the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, and representatives of the Catholic Trustees issued guidance in April 2015 on how the concept may be implemented, enabling a Controlled school and Catholic Maintained school to, in effect, amalgamate.

Those wishing to learn more about this new shared school model are welcome to attend either of the following public sessions. Tuesday 23rd February, 7:45pm at Fermanagh House, Enniskillen or Wednesday 24th February, 7:30pm in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh. Representatives from the relevant educational bodies / sectors will be there to provide information and answer queries.

Catherine Ward from the Rural Centre for Shared Education said “This is major new model which provides an opportunity for children to be educated together that local communities may consider. We would encourage those with an interest to come along to one of our sessions and explore this new development. It is a very interesting concept which provides an alternative approach for school communities.”

For more information or to book a place contact catherine@sharededucationcentre.org / 028 66 320 210.