NEWS

Gary Hegarty, owner of Mindful Gardens reflects on the benefits of changing his career and returning to education by studying Horticulture at CAFRE Greenmount Campus.  After nearly two decades designing sports pages for a national newspaper, Gary Hegarty found himself facing a turning point — one shaped by rapid technological change and a growing desire to work closer to the natural world. Today, he runs his own garden design business, Mindful Gardens. But the path from newsr

Education Minister Paul Givan pictured at the launch of the SEN Reform Training project with project participants and representatives from the five further education colleges involved in delivering the project. A new training initiative aimed at strengthening early support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) has been officially launched by Education Minister Paul Givan, placing a renewed focus on equipping classroom assistants with specialist skills during the e

Four pupils, Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College, accompanied by Mrs Anna McKay, and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, accompanied by Mrs Heather Dalzell, are pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Oliver McMullan, outside Cloonavin as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day. Four Co Antrim schoolgirls were given a rare behind-the-scenes look at civic leadership this wee

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2026 Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme is now open for applications, the Department for Communities has announced, offering financial support to eligible students and adult learners to attend Irish-language courses in Gaeltacht areas. The scheme provides attendees with an opportunity to immerse themselves in an Irish speaking community, increase their knowledge and use of Irish through attending classes, and take part in a wide range of cultural activities including sport an

Michaela McBurnie from the Meadows Equestrian Centre with students Emma Brow (Hillsborough) and Ellie Getty (Cloughmills). The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has brought industry and education together at its Enniskillen Campus, hosting an Opportunities in Equine Careers Fair as part of its annual Careers Day to support students planning their future in the equine sector. The Opportunities in Equine Careers Day was designed to help students develop

Pilgrim’s Europe Technical Apprentice Stephanie Millar pictured at the company’s Ballymena site. Pilgrim’s Europe has shone a spotlight on Ballymena-based apprentice Stephanie Millar during National Apprenticeship Week, recognising her progression from farm life in Coleraine to a skilled technical role within the food industry. Stephanie, who works as a Technical Apprentice at the company’s Ballymena facility, joined Pilgrim’s Europe’s apprenticeship programme after deciding

(L-R) Orlaith McLoughlin, Paul McHenry (Acting Director of CAFRE), Maynard Mawhinney (Chair of the CAFRE College Advisory Group), Cathal O’Donnell, Lawrence Whyte and Stephen Black. Stephen Black, Principal of Ballymena Academy , has been appointed to the CAFRE College Advisory Group, as the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed four new members to the strategic body supporting agri-food and rural education in Northern Ireland. The appoin