Pictured: Former pupil and NI international footballer David Healy cuts the ribbon to open Killyleagh Integrated Primary School with pupils and (l-r) Chair of Governors Jim Lindsay, Baroness May Blood of the Integrated Education Fund and Principal Jason Milligan

Some very special guests visited Killyleagh recently to officially open a new integrated school. Killyleagh Primary School has taken the step of becoming integrated and former NI international and record goal-scorer David Healy cut the ribbon to mark the new beginning.

Principal Jason Milligan, pupils, staff and governors welcomed David Healy and Baroness May Blood of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) along with Denise Morgan of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and Sharon O’Connor, Chief Executive of the Education Authority.

Commenting on his return to his old primary school, David Healy said:

“Killyleagh Primary has happy memories for me and always played an important role in local life. It’s great to see it developing as Killyleagh Integrated Primary – a school to welcome and cherish all sections of the community.”

Congratulating Killyleagh IPS on its new status, IEF Campaign Chair Baroness Blood said:

“I wish Killyleagh Integrated Primary School the very best as you begin the new term with a new, refreshed commitment to truly welcoming pupils of all traditions and backgrounds. Developments like this show what can be achieved by schools responding to the wishes of parents and reaching out to the entire local community. You give everyone hope that we can grow an education system in Northern Ireland which brings people together and meets the demands of the twenty-first century.”

The guests enjoyed music from the school choir and met key figures from the school community including the steering group who have worked with the school to support the bringing forward of a development proposal for transformation to the Education Authority and set the school on the path to integration.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Roisin Marshall, Chief Executive Officer at (028) 9097 2910 or via e-mail to rmarshall@nicie.org.uk or via email to cstapleton@nicie.org.uk