UUP MLA Jon Burrows meets Harryville principal after 24 pupils reported missing from school

Jon Burrows MLA and Neil McCullough Principal of Harryville Primary School

More than 20 children were initially reported missing from a primary school in Ballymena, prompting an urgent effort by education officials to trace their whereabouts.

The Education Authority (EA) distributed a list of more than 50 missing pupils from various schools to principals across Northern Ireland earlier this term, seeking help to identify children who had stopped attending school without explanation.

According to the EA, 24 pupils who had attended Harryville Primary School in Ballymena had left, with uncertainty over which schools they had moved to — or whether they were still in education.

Speaking to BBC News NI, principals said the EA periodically circulates such “tracer letters”, asking other schools to check whether any of the named children have since enrolled elsewhere. One principal described the correspondence as a vital measure to ensure that children do not slip through the cracks of the education system.

However, the situation at Harryville Primary — which was at the centre of community unrest earlier this year — has now been clarified following a meeting between Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows and the school’s principal.

UUP MLA Meets Harryville Principal to Clarify Missing Pupil Figures

North Antrim MLA and Ulster Unionist Party Education spokesperson Jon Burrows met with Mr McCullough, the principal of Harryville Primary School, on Friday morning to discuss the reports.

“Following reports in the media that 24 children were missing from Harryville Primary School after the disorder in June, I had a meeting this morning with the principal, Mr McCullough,” said Mr Burrows.

“The school has undertaken extensive work to trace pupils who left following the disorder in Ballymena in June.

“Through this dedicated effort, the accurate number of children who have yet to be traced is now confirmed as eight and not the 24 cited in the media and the most recent Education Authority tracer alert.”

Mr Burrows praised the staff of Harryville Primary for their commitment and community spirit during a difficult period.

“The teaching staff at Harryville Primary School carried out exceptional and unheralded work during and in the aftermath of the disorder. Their commitment, compassion, and public service are a credit to both the school and the wider community,” he said.

He added that the issue of children missing from education remains an area that requires strong oversight.

“The issue of children missing from education, and how this is managed by the Education Authority, remains an important matter. Scrutiny at Stormont provides the appropriate forum to ensure accountability and to strengthen systems that safeguard children.”

Mr Burrows said he had written to Education Minister Paul Givan, inviting him to visit Harryville Primary to hear first-hand about the challenges faced by staff and pupils since June’s disorder.

“It is now vital that Harryville Primary School is given the space and support it needs to continue its core mission, educating and supporting children, and providing a vital community service at the heart of Harryville,” he added.

Education Authority: ‘Safety and protection of children is our absolute priority’

In a statement, the Education Authority said the welfare of children and young people remains its top priority.

“The safety and protection of children and young people is our absolute priority,” a spokesperson said.

“We work with schools and partner organisations to ensure that robust systems are in place to identify, record, and monitor pupils’ attendance.”

The EA explained that when a child is persistently absent and all reasonable efforts to locate them are exhausted, their details are shared through the Child Missing in Education database — a UK-wide network designed to help trace pupils who may have moved or relocated.

“This is a vital safety net for children who may be at risk,” the spokesperson added.

The authority also said it continues to invest in pupil safeguarding and wellbeing services, including the appointment of specialist Education Welfare Officers through the Department of Education’s EWS Transformation initiative.

EA teams have been working with Harryville Primary and other affected schools through Restorative Practice programmes aimed at fostering inclusion, supporting wellbeing, and helping pupils and staff rebuild trust after recent community unrest.

“Missing children are often deemed to be vulnerable – including those from homeless families, victims of domestic violence, those involved in the criminal justice system, those with mental health difficulties and asylum seekers,” the EA said.

Background

The Education Authority’s “tracer” system is designed to help schools identify children who have stopped attending without formal transfer records. Such cases often involve complex social circumstances or families moving without notifying education authorities.

While the initial alert regarding Harryville Primary suggested 24 missing pupils, the latest clarification confirms that only eight children remain untraced after extensive follow-up by school staff.

Harryville Primary School continues to work closely with the Education Authority and community partners to support pupils and ensure no child is left behind.