NEWS

Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan, and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Families of children with special educational needs have been handed renewed hope after Stormont ministers stepped in over the controversial cancellation of summer schemes. Education Minister Paul Givan has called for urgent engagement to restore provision, while Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has now voiced “extreme concern” — ordering officials to explore how schemes could still go ahead. The

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA   Fresh pressure is mounting on the Education Authority after the Ulster Unionist Party warned the cancellation of special school summer schemes raises “serious questions” — including whether the decision was justified at all. Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has criticised the move by the Education Authority (EA), describing it as “deeply alarming” for children a

Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson And North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston The sudden cancellation of special school summer schemes has sparked a political backlash, with calls to urgently recall the Northern Ireland Assembly as families face losing what many describe as a “lifeline” service. The Alliance Party has formally tabled a recall petition, aiming to force ministers back into the chamber during Easter recess to answer for a decision that has left parents scramblin

The UK Government has issued its first national guidance on screen use for children under five — as mounting evidence suggests early childhood is being reshaped by digital habits long before many children reach school. The scale of change is striking — and accelerating. Children are now typically introduced to screens by around nine months old. By age two, daily use has surged to an average of 127 minutes — more than double the recommended maximum of one hour. And the consequ

Current Harper Ireland Chairman Liam McKenna (left) with the evening's speaker, the President of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster – and Harper Adams University alumnus – Richard Beattie, A young farmer from Dunloy has delivered a powerful message to the next generation of agricultural leaders — telling students they are not just entering the industry, but shaping its future. Richard Beattie, President of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) , returned to Harper Adams U

Summer schemes for children attending special schools across Northern Ireland have been cancelled this year, in a decision described by the Education Authority (EA) as “deeply regrettable” but necessary to protect vulnerable young people. EA confirmed on Thursday (March 26) that the schemes will not go ahead due to the absence of adequate healthcare provision — specifically, the lack of on-site nursing cover required to safely support children with complex medical needs. Fo

Drivers in Northern Ireland could soon be banned from overtaking stopped buses — and may even be required to slow dramatically or stop — under new proposals aimed at protecting children during one of the most dangerous moments of their school journey. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  has launched a public consultation exploring sweeping changes to how motorists behave when passengers, particularly schoolchildren, are getting on or off buses. The proposals come in response

The MEA DIY Bootcamp participants following the successful completion of the intensive hands-on programme. Nineteen residents from Mid and East Antrim have turned practical ambition into real achievement, celebrating the completion of an intensive DIY training programme with a showcase event at Larne Town Hall. Custom-built tables and bespoke lamps—designed and crafted entirely by participants—took centre stage as certificates were awarded, marking the culmination of the Mid

Pictured at the Company Showcase at Queen’s University Belfast Business School, Cullybackey College ahead of their pitch for Seed the Season to Judging Panel. A team of enterprising students from Cullybackey College is heading to Belfast City Hall with a chance to be crowned Northern Ireland’s top young business — after impressing judges with a sustainability-driven idea that’s already taking root. Their student company, Seed the Season , has been named among just six finalis

Pictured is the Mayor and Mayoress of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford and Allison Minford with Grace, Maisy and Emma from Cambridge House Grammar School with their winning idea 'Strike City' at the MEA Student Pitch challenge. Young people from across Mid and East Antrim have stepped forward with fresh, ambitious ideas to breathe new life into struggling town centres — and their creativity is already turning heads. A Dragon’s Den-style competition has seen pos

Saoirse Stacey and Oran Masterson with Irish Minister Michael Healy-Rae at Carrigduff National School, Bunclody, Wexford at the launch of the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme. Primary schools across County Antrim are being urged to step beyond the classroom and become leaders in farm safety, as a nationwide initiative opens for enrolment ahead of an April deadline. Irish Rural Link has launched its AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme, inviting sch

Pictured are Oliver Mars of Milwaukee Tools, Noah Downie, a Northern Regional College student, first-year Electrical Installation apprentice and Regional Skill Build finalist, and Iain McCart, Lecturer in Electrical Installation at Northern Regional College. Northern Regional College is set to bring a unique, hands-on industry experience to Ballymena next month after becoming the first college in the UK to host the Milwaukee Tools Roadshow. The global power tool manufacturer

L-R: Bronwen Hall, Snr Consultant, The Workforce Development Trust, Kristine Graham, Group HR Manager, McKeever Hotels, Martin Toner, Director of People & Culture, McKeever Hotels A leading Northern Ireland hotel group is taking an unusually proactive step to tackle one of hospitality’s biggest headaches — staffing — just weeks before the busy summer season begins. Multi award-winning McKeever Hotels has become the first tourism and hospitality business in Northern Ireland to

Schools in Ballymena are calling for urgent, coordinated action after last summer’s unrest left classrooms empty, families fleeing, and some of the area’s most vulnerable children gone for good. At the centre of the appeal is a stark statistic: the equivalent of an entire classroom — 26 pupils — missing at the start of the September 2025 term following disturbances linked to so-called “anti-migrant riots” in Ballymena and Larne. Speaking ahead of the Ulster Teachers’ Union (U

Ross Lorimer of Lakeland Dairies presents a scholarship award to Ballymena student Megan Ross at the CAFRE Industry Support event. Students from Ballymena, Portglenone and Toomebridge have been recognised among the next generation of agri-food talent, securing bursaries and scholarships at a major industry-backed awards event in Cookstown. The presentation, hosted at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus, saw significant financial backing from leading agri-food businesses awarded to student

A new recruitment campaign offering careers maintaining Northern Ireland’s road network has been launched, with opportunities ranging from industrial roadworker roles to trainee civil engineering posts. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced the two competitions, which aim to strengthen the workforce responsible for keeping the region’s roads safe, maintained and operating efficiently. The campaign is seeking applicants for Industrial Road Worker positions across North

(L-R): Dr Darren Mornin Principal of Limavady High School, Cian Canning Head Boy, St Mary's High School Limavady, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, Harry Kealey, Head Boy, Limavady High School and Sean Mullan Principal of St Mary's High School. One of the biggest changes to driver licensing in Northern Ireland in almost 70 years is set to reshape how young people learn to drive — with new rules aimed at tackling the high number of serious road collisions involving new driv

North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has warned that proposed changes to special educational needs (SEN) support could place classroom assistant jobs at risk and increase pressure inside classrooms. Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Gaston paid tribute to the “vital role classroom assistants play” in supporting pupils but said staff and families are increasingly worried about how the proposed reforms may work in practice. The Tr

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with Head Boy, Jake Quigley, Head Girl, Emma-Louise White and Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen at his recent visit to Antrim Grammar School to see Northern Ireland Screen’s creative education and careers pipeline. Young people in Northern Ireland could find their future careers in the rapidly growing screen and creative industries, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  said during a visit to Antrim Grammar Sc

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