NEWS

A fantastic effort by the Ballymena Academy teams. Saturday 03 October 2026 Ballymena Academy made a perfect start to their Netball Northern Ireland League campaign, with all four teams securing victories away to Belfast Royal Academy on Friday. Four wins on opening day The Minor 1 and Minor 2 sides delivered particularly commanding performances, recording 22–1 and 28–1 victories respectively. Minor 3 also began their campaign on a winning note with a 4–1 result, before Junio

Tuesday 29 September 2026 Primary 6 and 7 pupils could receive additional literacy and numeracy support, alongside help preparing for the move to post-primary education, under a new programme backed by up to £600,000. The initiative is being delivered through the Department of Education’s existing RAISE programme, which already operates in Ballymena and 17 other localities across Northern Ireland. Schools can apply for funding to provide targeted support during the 2026/27 ac

Teachers across Northern Ireland are set to begin action short of strike from Monday, September 28, with restrictions potentially affecting extra-curricular activities, meetings, cover arrangements and communications outside teachers’ allocated working time. The escalation comes after months of negotiations over teacher and school leader workload, with unions arguing that stronger guarantees are needed to turn recommendations from an independent workload review into meaningfu

(L-R) Caroline McKenna, Foodies Spokesperson, Eimear O'Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland Primary schools across County Antrim can now register for a new free food education programme aimed at helping young children build healthy eating habits and become more confident about fruit and vegetables. Lidl Foodies is open to schools across Northern Ireland and provides teachers of children aged four to seven with ready-made lesson plans, activit

Team Harryville Primary School ahead of their Dragon Boat Race challenge this weekend. Staff from Harryville Primary School in Ballymena have raised more than £2,500 so far for Northern Ireland Hospice — with donations still coming in ahead of their Dragon Boat challenge on the River Lagan this weekend. The school team will take to the water in Belfast on Saturday, September 19, as part of the charity’s Dragon Boat Race, joining teams from businesses, clubs and organisations

Tuesday 15 September 2026 Teachers, parents and pupils across Northern Ireland are being asked to share their experiences of behaviour, disruption and safety in schools as part of a review that will shape new government policy. Education Minister Paul Givan has launched a Call for Evidence seeking views on the scale of behaviour problems, their impact on learning and staff wellbeing, and what schools need to improve standards. The exercise forms part of the Department of Educ

SDLP MLA for East Londonderry, Cara Hunter Girls will be guaranteed the choice to wear trousers at every school in Northern Ireland from the 2027/28 school year, as Education Minister Paul Givan faces fresh criticism over why the change was not made sooner. SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA has joined Ulster Unionist Party leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA in welcoming the outcome while challenging the Minister over the months of political

CGI showing an impression of the new building Planning permission has been granted for the proposed partial redevelopment of St Louis Grammar School on Cullybackey Road, Ballymena. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved proposals including a new school meals block, improved outdoor areas and a reconfiguration of the front of the site aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on Cullybackey Road. New school meals block and play area The

Girls across Northern Ireland will be guaranteed the choice to wear trousers as part of their school uniform under revised legally binding guidelines issued by Education Minister Paul Givan. Ulster Unionist Party leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed the move as a “common-sense outcome”, while claiming the Minister could have resolved the issue earlier without the Education Committee having to pursue legislation. The revised Department of Education gu

DfI contractors on site refreshing the road markings outside Ballymena Primary School on the busy Ballymoney Road North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has welcomed action to improve road safety outside Ballymena Primary School after he raised concerns with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on behalf of the school. Fresh yellow zig-zag markings have now been installed after the school’s principal highlighted faded road markings and malfunctioning flashing school safety signs. Whil

Inset: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Questions over the sourcing and labelling of chicken served in Northern Ireland schools remain despite fresh assurances from the Education Authority that halal-certified poultry is not being provided as a blanket policy, an MP has said. Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart is calling for greater transparency for parents and increased use of locally produced food in publicly funded catering, as she prepares to meet Education Authority (EA) o

Students arriving in Belfast for the new academic year will see a visible police presence around accommodation areas as a safety campaign gets under way, with advice on accessing help during nights out and protecting themselves and their belongings. The PSNI is also highlighting the Ask for Angela initiative, which offers a discreet way to seek help at more than 400 participating bars and clubs across Northern Ireland if someone feels vulnerable. Launched today, Wednesday 9 S

Four primary schools—including two in the wider Love Ballymena coverage area—have vowed to continue building inclusive school communities after Education Minister Paul Givan rejected their applications for integrated status. Larne and Inver Primary School and Killowen Primary School in Coleraine were refused alongside Ballyhenry Primary School in Glengormley and Downshire Primary School in Hillsborough. The four ministerial decisions were dated Sunday 30 August, immediately b

(L-R): Rhys McClenaghan; Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland; Kerry O’Flaherty Secondary schools across County Antrim are being invited to apply for a programme using sport and athlete mentoring to help pupils manage pressure, build resilience and support their mental wellbeing. Schools selected for Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme will receive a series of workshops led by experienced athlete mentors, along with £1,000 worth o

Families applying for funded pre-school places in Northern Ireland face a significant change to admissions rules next year, as Education Minister Paul Givan moves to restrict which households receive priority under the current social disadvantage criterion. The Minister has confirmed that only families receiving benefits specifically named in the existing regulations will qualify for priority when applying for a pre-school place next year. The move will end the practice of tr

A new children’s series created in Belfast is putting the experiences of autistic pupils at the heart of stories about starting school, friendship, inclusion and bullying — with autistic young people helping to shape what viewers see and hear on screen. Pablo: Next Level, produced by Belfast-based Paper Owl Films and Crayola Studios, launches on Monday 7 September on RTÉ KIDS and CBBC, before being rolled out internationally. Aimed at children aged five to eight, the 40-episo

The Education Authority has agreed to accept a number of school taxi bids it considers excessively expensive to ensure children can continue getting to and from school — but has warned some families could ultimately be offered payments to make alternative transport arrangements themselves. The decision follows a major tendering exercise involving more than 1,200 school taxi runs ahead of the new academic year. The EA says early analysis shows tendered mileage rates have falle

Inset: Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA New support for newly qualified teachers must come with protected time and proper resources rather than adding to already heavy workloads, Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has warned. His comments follow the launch of an enhanced induction programme for teachers beginning their careers in Northern Ireland, including a new online learning platform alongside face-to-face training and live webinars. While welcoming

An £8,500 donation is helping Clough Primary School and Nursery Unit create a dedicated sensory room where children can find a calm, supportive space during the school day. The new facility at the Ballymena school will support pupils who benefit from additional emotional and sensory support, helping them to regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety and return to the classroom more settled and ready to learn. The funding has come from the St. James’s Place (SJP) Charitable Found

Helping announce the new call for entries from Co. Antrim pupils in Yr. 11 are the finalists representing Ballymena Academy in this year’s ABP Angus Youth Challenge. This year’s winners will be announced on 22nd October at an awards ceremony in the Eikon Centre, Balmoral Park. Year 11 pupils across County Antrim are being invited to put their farming knowledge, ideas and teamwork to the test for the chance to rear their own mini-herd of Angus-cross calves. Entries have opened