Inter school Citizenship and Relationship Enhancement Project (I Care)

Glengormley High School - school site
Edmund Rice College - school site
Glengormley Integrated PS
St Mary’s on the Hill PS
Mossgrove PS, St Bernard’s PS
Ballyhenry PS

I-CARE involved pupils from Glengormley High School and Edmund Rice College working together on KS3 Citizenship, classes were held using a variety of innovative techniques including large scale classes, the use of mediascape and alternating venues. The partnership also includes 4 local primary schools and the provision of KS2 Physical Education, using the Glengormley High School facilities and staff with older pupils from the post-primary schools who are completing GCSE PE acting as mentors.

Despite being in close proximity, the post-primary schools involved in this partnership had no history of sustained long term collaboration, by harnessing the drive and commitment of key senior teaching staff the partnership has provided enhanced citizenship learning for over 500 pupils. Local Primary Schools have benefited from access to facilities and teaching resources in the post-primary schools; this aspect of the partnership has also been beneficial to those pupils completing the GCSE PE course in the two post-primary schools as they have had access to key practical aspects of the subject.

The partnership demonstrates the capacity of teachers to be drivers of change within institutions, overcoming obstacles and re-imagining how key aspects of the curriculum could be delivered.