Shimna Integrated College

Shimna Integrated College is an integrated secondary school based in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. The all-ability school was founded in 1994 with the hope of integrating young people from both sides of Northern Ireland's religious divide and giving all of its students 'self-esteem'.[1]

Shimna Integrated College
Address
The Lawnfield
King Street

Newcastle
,
County Down
,
BT33 0HD

Northern Ireland
Coordinates54.198798°N 5.890528°W / 54.198798; -5.890528
Information
TypeIntegrated secondary school
MottoLearning from each other
Religious affiliation(s)Mixed
Established1994
Local authoritySEELB
PrincipalSteve Pagan
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment531
Websitehttps://www.shimnaintegratedcollege.org/

Context

Integrated Education is a Northern Ireland phenomenon, where traditionally schools were sectarian,[2] either run as Catholic schools or Protestant schools. On as parental request, a school could apply to 'transition' to become Grant Maintained offering 30% of the school places to students from the minority community. Lagan College was the first integrated school to open in 1981.[3]

History

It opened in September 1994 with 60 pupils.[4] In March 2011, Shimna became the first school in Northern Ireland to organize a gay-straight alliance.[5]

Site

The original buildings are in the process of being replaced with a £16.5m three storey building that meets 2021 design requirements.[4] The plans were approved at the planning committee meeting in April 2021 [6] with completion predicted for September 2023.

See also

References
  1. "NICIE". Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  2. Lord Baker of Dorking, Daily Hansard, 18 July 2006 : Column 1189 www.parliament.uk, retrieved 22 July 2007
  3. "The History of NICIE | Integrated Education Northern Ireland". www.nicie.org. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  4. "Plans submitted for new 620-student Shimna College". www.thedownrecorder.co.uk. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. "Shimna Integrated College forms gay-straight alliance". BBC News. 25 March 2011.
  6. "Planning_committee_agenda__08-04-2021" (PDF). www.newrymournedown.org/. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
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