NEWS

Football and books came together in Ballymena this week as players from Ballymena United Football Club swapped the pitch for the classroom to help inspire a love of reading among local pupils. The club joined pupils and staff at Dunclug Primary School on Thursday (March 5) to celebrate World Book Day 2026, turning the usual school routine into an energetic mix of football, storytelling and lively questions from curious young fans. First team players Donal Rocks and Brad Wade

Donnolly Group celebrates long service milestone at with Lisa Gormley at their Ballymena showroom Fifteen years in one workplace is an increasingly rare milestone — but at Donnelly Group ’s Ballymena showroom, it’s being celebrated as a mark of loyalty, experience and long-term career growth. Lisa Gormley has reached her 15-year landmark with the company, a significant achievement within one of Northern Ireland’s leading employers and the region’s largest independently owned

Northern Ireland’s exam system is facing its biggest shake-up in a generation, with AS levels to be scrapped and the overall number of GCSE and A Level exams significantly reduced under sweeping reforms announced today. Education Minister Paul Givan  has published a new policy framework for CCEA GCSE and A level qualifications, setting out structural changes designed to cut exam pressure, reduce coursework, and shift the focus from “teaching to the test” to deeper learning.

Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde answering questions from children at St Colmcille's and  Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World North tour. Ahead of World Book Day on Thursday, 5 March 2026, children from Carniny Primary School and St Colmcille’s Primary School welcomed Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde , along with a team of authors and illustrators to Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World Nort

Pictured at The Music Yard in Larne are (L-R) Music Yard founder Thomas Hamilton, JobStart participant Eamon McElroy and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. More than 1,200 new opportunities have been created under the latest JobStart scheme, with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  welcoming what he described as the “wide range of opportunities” now available to people seeking a route back into work. Since launching in October 2025, 1,086 employers have signed up to the schem

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has opened the door to around 120 new Deputy Principal posts — the first recruitment at this level in four years — marking a significant intake aimed at strengthening departments right across government. The campaign will fill vacancies across all NICS departments and locations, with successful candidates stepping into key roles at the heart of policy development and public service delivery. Deputy Principals play an important part in develo

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew The battle over funding at Kirkinriola Early Years has intensified, with DUP MLA Paul Frew declaring the rural Ballymena unit “is here to stay” and pledging to fight what he described as a “daft policy” by the Education Authority (EA). Mr Frew visited the school on Friday morning to meet staff at the Early Years Unit, reinforcing the message that both the unit and Kirkinriola Primary School are thriving despite the shock decision to withdraw p

Kirkinriola Primary School A rural pre-school on the outskirts of Ballymena has been left reeling after the Education Authority (EA) confirmed it is withdrawing funding for the year ahead — a decision described as “completely unacceptable” by those at the heart of the setting. Kirkinriola Early Years (KEY), based at Kirkinriola Primary School , was informed on Monday 23 February that funded pre-school places would be removed for the 2026/27 academic year. The move affects a

Lidl Northern Ireland announce a £2.3m investment in pay increases for their workforce across the region - pictured is Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland and colleagues from Lidl's store team. (Pic. Robbie Reynolds) More than 1,300 Lidl Northern Ireland employees will see their pay increase from next month, as the retailer announces a £2.3 million investment in wages across the region. From 1 March, Lidl Northern Ireland store and wareh

Inset: Education Minister Paul Givens A major shift in how schools in Northern Ireland become Integrated has been unveiled today, marking the first full operational roadmap since new legislation came into force. On 25 February 2026, the Department of Education published revised guidance titled Transforming Together – Understanding the Pathway to Integrated Education , setting out a clearer, more structured process for schools seeking to change status. The document replaces th

Education Minister Paul Givan at Ballymoney HS, announcing the full rollout of defibrillators to all schools across Northern Ireland. From l to r: Michael Allen (NIAS), Education Minister Paul Givan, Ballymoney HS Principal Jonny Bingham and Head of British Heart Foundation Fearghal McKinney. Every school in Northern Ireland now has a life-saving defibrillator on site — a milestone described as “hugely significant” for the safety of pupils, staff and the wider community. Educ

Quiz Masters winners 'Legs Eleven' with Mrs O'Neill and Vincent Rainey A packed room, fierce competition and a powerful show of community spirit have delivered a £7,500 boost for St Louis — funding that will soon translate directly into new interactive SMART boards in classrooms across the school. The inaugural Quiz Masters fundraiser, organised by the Friends of St Louis, brought together parents, staff, past pupils and friends of the school for an evening that blended sharp

Kathy Bennett, Head of English at Slemish College (right), with her partner teacher Olga from Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2 in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pupils in Ballymena are forging friendships that stretch far beyond the classroom walls. At Slemish College, Year 10 pupils are working side-by-side — virtually — with students from Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2 in Kharkiv as part of the UK-Ukraine Schools Partnership programme.

EA's Food Development Manager, Scott Graham, who has used his skills as a professional chef to transform school meals across NI. From fine dining in South Africa to feeding 160,000 pupils a day across Northern Ireland, one chef is quietly reshaping what school dinners look — and taste — like. Scott Graham, Food Development Manager within EA Catering’s Service Improvement Team , is helping drive a significant shift in school food culture. International flavours, street food in

Monday 23 February 2026 Families across Northern Ireland are set to see the cost of school uniforms fall after new legislation formally came into operation, placing legal duties on schools to prioritise affordability. Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the commencement of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026, which has now received Royal Assent. The move means statutory School Uniforms Guidelines are in force with immediate effec

From Ballycastle to Carryduff, communities across Northern Ireland are being urged to step forward as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) launches a major On-Call Firefighter recruitment campaign. Branded ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your NIFRS’ , the three-week drive is seeking enthusiastic and committed individuals who live or work within five minutes of their local On-Call Fire Station — people willing to carry a pager, respond at short notice and help protect their c

Antrim Jobs and Benefits Office Employer Adviser, Natasha Lamont, The Junction Retail & Leisure Park Director, Chris Flynn, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Business Development Project Officer, Jessica Smyth. For anyone in Antrim considering a fresh start — whether that means improving wellbeing, building confidence or stepping into new employment — a free support event later this month aims to make that next step easier. The Wellbeing and Em

Children from Carniny Primary School and St. Colmcille’s Primary School taking part in the Top Children's Author Election in 2025 Almost 1,800 primary school pupils across Mid and East Antrim will head to the polls on World Book Day as part of a special ‘Top Children’s Author Election’ marking Democracy Week 2026. Seventeen primary schools from across the borough are participating in the initiative, which sees ten Northern Ireland children’s writers vying for the votes of you

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has received more than 4,000 applications for its 2026 student officer recruitment campaign, with 4,104 people applying before the process closed on Wednesday, 4 February. The significant response highlights continued interest in policing careers across Northern Ireland, as the service prepares to begin a rigorous multi-stage selection process. The recruitment campaign offers successful candidates a place on an intensive 22-week training

Thousands of Northern Ireland pupils have called for a reduction in exam pressure as the Department of Education publishes its long-awaited report on the future of CCEA GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications. Nearly 4,500 young people responded to a dedicated survey, alongside more than 3,500 individuals and organisations who took part in a public consultation between September and November 2025. The findings will inform a new Qualifications Policy Framework, with revised CCEA s